COLUMBUS, Neb. (WOWT) – In the midst of the cold weather for the next few days, the Nebraska Public Power District, Omaha Public Power District and Metropolitan Utilities District are asking customers to conserve energy.
NPPD is asking customers to voluntarily reduce electrical power starting at midnight, Feb. 15, for the next two days. The voluntary request is for electric customers.
They say the cold weather is leading to more severe conditions in the service area of the Southwest Power Pool, of which the NPPD is a member.
The ways NPPD electric customers can help without compromising safety include:
- Turn the thermostats down to 68 degrees and below at night.
- Close curtains and blinds to reduce the amount of heat lost through windows.
- Turn off and unplug non-essential lights and appliances, computers and printers.
- Close the valve of the fire when not in use to prevent heat loss through the chimney.
- Do not use large appliances (eg Ovens, washing machines, etc.)
- Companies should limit the use of electrical lighting and electricity consuming equipment as much as possible.
- Do not connect a generator to your home’s electrical system. Consult a licensed electrician.
- Do not use grill equipment for heating indoors. Charcoal and gas grills produce large amounts of carbon monoxide, and even small amounts can be fatal.
OPPD is also asking customers to save energy in the coming days due to the cold weather.
“These prolonged, frigid temperatures are increasing the demand for energy in our service area and for our partner companies,” said Tim Burke, OPPD President and CEO. “Like every day, OPPD employees work hard day and night behind the scenes to keep the power flowing to our customers.”
Like NPPD, OPPD is also a member of the Southwest Power Pool. They also ask customers to save energy at midnight on Sundays.
The SPP has declared an Energy Emergency Alert and is asking members and customers to help balance what is currently peak demand in the winter months.
OPPD customers can help in these ways:
- Turn your thermostat down a few degrees and dress warmer, or use extra blankets to stay comfortable instead. You can reduce your energy expenditure by 1-3% for each degree.
- Close the valve of the fire when not in use to prevent heat loss through the chimney. (Use dampers on the ductwork to balance the airflow in your home when one room is colder or warmer than the other. Closing registers should be a last resort when dampers are not available.)
- Do not use a wood-burning fireplace for supplemental heating, as this will draw hot air out of a house through the chimney to fuel the fire.
- Seal windows and exterior doors with draft strips.
- Do not wash, dry clothes or run dishwashers during the coldest parts of the day – usually late at night and early in the morning.
- Avoid “phantom” power loss by:
- Sleep desktop computers and monitors when not in use.
- Turn off computer monitors when not in use.
- Do not turn off electronics such as televisions, DVDs, Blu-Ray players or cable boxes when not in use. Unplug them if possible.
- With a central power strip you can switch off multiple devices at the same time.
MUD is also asking customers to reduce energy in extremely cold weather to help maintain natural gas supplies.
They ask customers to keep the heating low until Wednesday, February 17th at 9am
Customers can help save energy by:
- If you are healthy enough for that, lower your thermostat 3 degrees. (Note: older adults may want to turn up the thermostat to avoid hypothermia).
- Wear a sweater or other layers of clothing to keep warm.
- Close the valve of the fireplace when not in use to prevent heat loss through the chimney.
- Leave curtains, blinds and / or blinds open in direct sunlight to heat the room and close them at night to prevent heat loss through the windows.
- To prevent frozen pipes, circulate heat around gauges and pipes near exterior walls, in uninsulated cabinets, or other enclosed areas.
- Where previous freezes were a problem, a small trickle of water from the tap can keep a pipe from freezing.
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