TOPEKA, Kan. (KWCH) – At 4:40 pm today, Governor Laura Kelly issued a state of emergency disaster due to warnings of wind cooling and stress on utility and natural gas suppliers.
The state experienced severe winter temperatures and chills below zero for more than a week, which put pressure on utility and natural gas suppliers across the state. The declaration authorizes the use of state resources and personnel to assist in response and recovery operations in affected counties that meet certain criteria.
“As extremely low temperatures continue to affect the region, we are asking Kansans to save energy to help ensure a continuous supply of natural gas and electricity and to keep its own personal costs low,” said Governor Kelly.
Because of sub-zero temperatures, which cause an increase in energy demand and restrictions on the supply of natural gas, utilities are currently experiencing wholesale natural gas prices 10 to 100 times higher than normal. These costs will eventually reach consumers and increase monthly natural gas and electricity bills.
Customers can keep these costs low by reducing the use of natural gas and electricity at this critical time.
Here are some things each family can do to help with the conservation effort and slow down increases in energy bills due to high usage:
- Keep warm, not hot. Whenever possible, use additional layers of clothing, consider lowering the thermostat and checking programmable settings.
- Seal leaks around doors and windows. Apply caulking or caulking to seal cracks and cracks around windows and doors to prevent air leaks and prevent loss of energy. If that is not an option, you can also cover the windows with towels, sheets or plastic to help keep the air warm in your home.
- Reduce the temperature of your water heater. Set the temperature of your water heater to 120 degrees Fahrenheit or set it to the “hot” setting. If your home will be empty for two days or more, adjust the dial to the pilot position to save even more.
- Close blinds and curtains. This helps to keep warm air indoors, especially if the sun is not shining.
- Change or clean filters. A clean filter in your furnace can reduce energy consumption by 5 to 15 percent. Dirty filters cost more to use and overload the equipment.
- Don’t do chores. Washing and washing dishes can use natural gas to heat the water and the dryer. If you can, wait until the extreme cold has passed to complete these activities. If you can’t wait, use the cold setting whenever possible.
- Install foam joints in switches and electrical outlets. Switches and electrical outlets can account for up to 10% of your home’s energy loss.
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