COLUMBUS, Neb. (WOWT) – In the middle of the cold weather for the next few days, the Nebraska Public Power District, Omaha Public Power District and the Metropolitan Utilities District are asking customers to cut back on energy.
NPPD is asking customers to voluntarily reduce electricity immediately starting at midnight, February 15, for the next two days. Voluntary solicitation is for electric customers.
They say the cold weather is leading to tougher conditions in the service territory of the Southwest Power Pool, of which NPPD is a member.
Ways NPPD Electric customers can help without compromising safety are:
- Reduce the thermostats to 68 degrees and reduce the night.
- Close the shadows and blinds to reduce the amount of heat lost through the windows.
- Turn off and unplug lights and non-essential appliances, computers, and printers.
- Close the chimney flap when not in use to avoid heat loss through the chimney.
- Avoid using large appliances (eg ovens, washing machines, etc.)
- Businesses should minimize the use of electricity and energy-consuming equipment as much as possible.
- Do not connect a generator to your home electrical system. Consult an authorized electrician.
- Do not use any grill equipment for indoor heating. Coal and gas grills produce large amounts of carbon monoxide and even small amounts have potentially fatal results.
OPPD asks customers to reduce energy for the next two days due to cold weather.
“These prolonged freezing temperatures increase energy demand in our service territory and for partner utilities,” said Tim Burke, President and CEO of OPPD. “As they do every day, OPPD employees work hard, day and night, behind the scenes to keep current to our customers.”
Like the NPPD, the OPPD is also a member of the Southwest Power Pool. It also requires customers to start conserving energy by midnight on Sunday.
The SPP has declared an energy emergency alert and is asking members and customers to help balance what is currently a peak demand for the winter months.
OPPD clients can help in the following ways:
- Lower the thermostat a few degrees and get warmer or use extra blankets to keep you comfortable. You can reduce energy consumption by 1-3% for each degree.
- Close the chimney flap when not in use to avoid heat loss through the chimney. (Use dampers on ducts to balance the airflow in your home if one room is colder or warmer than another. Closing registers should be a last resort if shock absorbers are not available.)
- Do not use a wood-burning fireplace for extra heating, as it removes hot air from a home through the chimney to fuel the fire.
- Seal discolored windows and exterior doors.
- Avoid washing and drying clothes or running dishwashers in the colder parts of the day – usually late at night and early in the morning.
- Avoid “ghost” energy loss by:
- Switch desktops and monitors to sleep when not in use.
- Turn off the computer monitor when not in use.
- Do not just turn off electronic components, such as TVs, DVDs, Blu-Ray players, or cable boxes, when not in use. Disconnect them if possible.
- A central power strip allows you to turn off multiple devices at once.
MUD also requires customers to reduce energy in extremely cold weather to help conserve natural gas reserves.
They ask customers to keep the heat low until Wednesday, February 17 at 9:00
Customers can help save energy by:
- If you are healthy enough to do this, reduce the thermostat by 3 degrees. (Note: Older adults may want to turn up the thermostat to prevent hypothermia).
- To keep warm, wear a sweater or other layers of clothing.
- Close the chimney flap when not in use to avoid heat loss through the chimney.
- Leave curtains, blinds and / or shadows open in direct sunlight to warm the room and close them at night to prevent heat loss through windows.
- To avoid frozen pipes, allow heat to circulate around meters and pipes near outside walls, in uninsulated cabinets, or in other enclosed areas.
- If previous freezing has been a problem, a slight trickle of tap water can prevent a pipe from freezing.
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