TOPEKA, Kan. (KWCH) – Today at 4:40 PM, Governor Laura Kelly has issued a state of emergency over warnings of wind chill and stress from utility and natural gas suppliers.
The state has suffered from bitter winter temperatures and sub-zero chills for over a week, which has put pressure on electricity and natural gas suppliers across the state. The statement allows the use of state resources and personnel to assist in response and recovery operations in affected countries that meet certain criteria.
“As the extreme cold temperatures continue to affect the region, we urge Kansans to conserve energy to help ensure a continuous supply of natural gas and electricity and keep their own personal costs down,” said Governor Kelly.
Due to freezing temperatures, which are causing increased energy demand and limited supply of natural gas, utilities are currently dealing with wholesale natural gas prices anywhere from 10 to 100 times higher than normal. Those costs will eventually pass through to consumers and increase monthly natural gas and electricity bills.
Customers can keep these costs down by reducing their natural gas and electricity consumption at this critical time.
Here are some things any household can do to help with conservation and slow down the rise in energy bills due to high consumption:
- Keep warm, not hotWear extra layers of clothing if possible, consider turning your thermostat down and checking your programmable settings.
- Seal leaks around doors and windowsApply weather stripping or caulk to seal gaps and cracks around windows and doors to stop air leaks and prevent energy loss. If that’s not an option, you can also cover windows with towels, sheets, or plastic to keep warm air in the house.
- Lower the temperature on your water heaterSet the temperature on your water heater to 120 degrees Fahrenheit or set it to the “warm” setting. If your house is empty for two days or more, turn the rotary switch to the helm for even more savings.
- Close blinds and curtains. This helps keep warm air in, especially when the sun isn’t shining.
- Replace or clean filtersA clean filter on your oven can cut your energy consumption by 5 to 15 percent. Dirty filters cost more to use and overload the equipment.
- Wait to do chores. For washing and dishwashing, natural gas can be used to heat the water as well as your dryer. If you can, wait for the extremely cold weather to pass to complete these activities. If you can’t wait, use the cold setting whenever possible.
- Install foam gaskets on electrical switches and outletsElectrical switches and outlets can cause up to 10 percent of the energy loss in your home.
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