COLUMBUS, Nebraska (WOWT): In the midst of the cold over the next few days, the Nebraska Public Energy District, the Omaha Public Energy District and the Metropolitan Utilities District are asking customers to cut back on energy.
NPPD asks customers to voluntarily reduce electricity immediately from midnight on February 15, for the next two days. Voluntary application is for electrical 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.
The ways NPPD Electric customers can help without compromising security are:
- Lower the thermostats to 68 degrees and lower them at night.
- Close blinds and shutters to reduce the amount of heat lost in windows.
- Turn off and turn off lights and non-essential appliances, computers, and printers.
- Close the chimney damper when not in use to avoid losing heat through the chimney.
- Avoid using large appliances (e.g. ovens, washing machines, etc.)
- Companies should minimize the use of electric lighting and electricity-consuming equipment.
- Do not connect a generator to your home’s electrical system. Consult a licensed electrician.
- Do not use any grill equipment to heat the interior. Coal and gas grills produce large amounts of carbon monoxide and even small amounts have life-threatening results.
OPPD also asks customers to cut back on energy over the next two days due to the cold.
“These icy, prolonged temperatures are increasing energy demand across our service territory and the public services of our partners,” said Tim Burke, president and CEO of OPPD. “As they do every day, OPPD employees are working hard, day and night, backstage to keep up with our customers.”
Like NPPD, OPPD is also a member of the Southwest Power Pool. They also ask customers to start conserving energy at midnight on Sunday.
The SPP declared the energy emergency alert and asked members and customers to help balance what is currently the highest demand for the winter months.
OPPD clients can help you in the following ways:
- Lower the thermostat a few degrees and dress more warmly or use extra blankets to keep you comfortable. You can reduce energy consumption by 1-3% for each degree.
- Close the chimney damper when not in use to avoid losing heat through the chimney. (Use dampers in the ductwork to balance the flow of air in your home if one room is colder or warmer than another. Closing logs should be a last resort if no dampers are available.)
- Do not use a wood burning fireplace to heat up extra, as it draws hot air from a home through the fireplace to feed the fire.
- Seal windows and exterior doors with time separation.
- Avoid washing and drying clothes or running dishwashers during the colder parts of the day (usually late at night and early in the morning).
- Avoid “ghost” energy loss by:
- Switch computers and desktop monitors to sleep mode when not in use.
- Turn off computer monitors when not in use.
- Don’t just turn off electronic devices, such as TVs, DVD players, Blu-Ray players, or cable boxes, when you’re not using them. Disconnect them if possible.
- A central power strip allows you to turn off multiple devices at once.
MUD also asks customers to reduce energy in an extremely cold climate to help conserve the natural gas supply.
Customers are asked to keep the heat off until Wednesday, Feb. 17 at 9 p.m.
Customers can help save energy by:
- If you are healthy enough to do so, lower the thermostat 3 degrees. (Note: Older adults may want to raise the thermostat to prevent hypothermia).
- To help keep you warm, wear a sweater or other layers of clothing.
- Close the chimney damper when not in use to avoid losing heat through the chimney.
- Leave curtains, blinds and / or shadows open in direct sunlight to heat the room and close them at night to prevent heat loss through windows.
- To avoid frozen pipes, let the heat circulate through meters and pipes located near exterior walls, in non-insulated cabinets, or in other enclosed areas.
- When previous freezes have been a problem, a light drizzle of tap water can prevent the pipe from freezing.
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