LINCOLN, Nebraska (KOLN) – Nebraska Public Power District and Lincoln Electric System customers are being asked to take steps to conserve energy use due to the current and future low temperatures that are affecting the state and the midwestern part of the country .
LES asked customers to take measures to conserve energy due to the current and future low temperatures that cause the increased use of electricity and natural gas. The increased use is creating extremely high wholesale electricity and natural gas prices. These factors, together with the reduction of wind production in the region to provide renewable energy, led the concessionaire to ask residential and commercial customers to take measures to reduce energy use.
The NPPD asked customers to reduce electricity usage immediately and by midnight on February 15 and within 48 hours to mitigate the risk of potential widespread and long-term outages. The effects of widespread and extreme cold have led to increasingly restrictive conditions in the service territory of Southwest Power Pool, of which the NPPD is a member.
NPPD is currently operating all generation resources available to meet demand, but calls for voluntary conservation of electricity consumers.
Electric consumers can do the following to help without putting safety at risk:
• Lower the thermostats to 68 degrees or less at night.
• Close curtains and blinds to reduce the amount of heat lost through windows.
• Turn off and unplug non-essential lights and devices, computers and printers.
• Close the fireplace damper when not in use to prevent heat loss from the chimney.
• Avoid using large appliances (for example, ovens, washing machines, etc.).
• Companies should minimize the use of electrical lighting and equipment that consume electricity as much as possible.
• Do not connect a generator to your home’s electrical system. Consult a licensed electrician.
• Do not use any equipment to grill for heating indoors. Charcoal and gas grills produce large amounts of carbon monoxide and even small quantities have potentially fatal results.
How LES customers can help:
• Set your thermostat to 68 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and 60 degrees at night or when you are away from home for more than four hours. If you have a heat pump, set the thermostat to no more than 3-4 degrees.
• Make sure that the air ducts are not blocked by furniture, carpets or curtains.
• Open curtains and drapes on the sunny sides of your home or business during the day. Close them at night.
• Keep windows tightly closed. Seal the outside windows and doors with tape.
• Close the fireplace damper when not in use to prevent heat loss from the chimney.
• Do not use a wood-burning fireplace for additional heating, as it draws warm air from a house through the chimney to fuel the fire.
• If using a portable heater, lower the central heating thermostat to compensate for the energy consumed by the heater.
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