News Releases
Columbus, Neb. – Wholesale and retail customers of Nebraska Public Power District are being asked to take steps to conserve energy use due to current and future low temperatures that are affecting the state and midwestern portion of the country.
Customers are asked to reduce any electrical usage effective immediately and through midnight, Feb. 15, and the following 48 hours to mitigate the risk of potential widespread and longer-lasting outages. The effects of widespread and extreme cold weather have led to increasingly tightening conditions in Southwest Power Pool’s (SPP) service territory which NPPD is a member.
NPPD is currently operating all available generating resources to meet demand but request voluntary conservation by electric consumers.
Electric consumers can do the following to assist without putting safety at risk:
- Turn down thermostats to 68 degrees and lower at night.
- Close shades and blinds to reduce the amount of heat lost through windows.
- Turn off and un-plug non-essential lights and appliances, computers and printers.
- Close the fireplace damper when not in use to avoid losing heat through the chimney.
- Avoid using large appliances (i.e., ovens, washing machines, etc.).
- Business should minimize the use of electric 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 any grilling equipment for heat indoors. Charcoal and gas grills produce large amounts of carbon monoxide and even small amounts has potentially fatal results.
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Click here to see additional energy-saving tips.
LINCOLN — Lincoln Electric System asks customers to take steps to conserve energy in the next 48 hours due to low temperatures that are causing increased electricity and natural gas usage. The higher usage is putting a significant strain on these systems that could cause service reliability issues.
The Southwest Power Pool (SPP), LES’ regional reliability coordinator, has notified utilities within its regional footprint that energy curtailments may be necessary. Such reductions would be used to balance the supply and demand of electricity in the region.
To help lower the electric system load, LES asks customers to voluntarily and safely implement one or more of the following tips to help reduce their energy use during this time:
- Lower your thermostat a few degrees or as low as is comfortable.
- Make sure air registers are not obstructed by furniture, carpeting or drapes.
- Open shades and drapes on sunny sides of your home or business during daytime hours. Close them at night.
- Keep windows tightly latched. Seal windows and external doors with weather stripping.
- Close the fireplace damper when not in use to avoid losing heat through the chimney.
- Avoid using a wood-burning fireplace for supplemental heating, as it pulls hot air out of a home through the chimney to fuel the fire.
- Postpone using major electric appliances such as stoves, dishwashers, and clothes dryers until the demand for electricity decreases.
- Turn down the temperature setting of your water heater.
- Turn off electric lights and appliances that you do not need or are not using.
- Look for other opportunities in your home or business to reduce the use of electricity and natural gas during this short period.
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See these energy-saving tips for additional information on ways to conserve energy and money.
Omaha Public Power District asks customers to conserve energy due to the extremely cold weather we are experiencing now and over the next couple of days. The bitter cold temperatures have increased demand for energy across the Plains region, even south into Texas and Oklahoma. Much as it does in summer, high demand can put additional strain on our system. We are seeing similar effects now, only this time with record cold instead of heat.
Customers can help by taking steps to reduce our service territory’s peak energy load and help balance supply and demand in the energy market.
- Lower your thermostat a few degrees and dress more warmly or use additional blankets to stay comfortable, instead. You can reduce your energy usage by 1-3% for each degree.
- Close the fireplace damper when not in use to avoid losing heat through the chimney.
- Use dampers on the ductwork to balance the airflow in your home if one room is colder or warmer than another. Closing registers should be a last resort if dampers are not available.
- Do not use a wood-burning fireplace for supplemental heating, as it pulls hot air out of a home through the chimney in order to fuel the fire.
- Seal windows and external doors with weather stripping.
- Avoid washing and drying clothing or running dishwashers during the coldest parts of the day – typically late night and early morning.
- Avoid “phantom” power loss:
- Switch desktop computers and monitors to sleep mode when not in use.
- Shut computer monitors off when not in use.
- Do not just turn off electronics like televisions, DVD, Blu-Ray players, or cable boxes when not in use. Unplug them if possible.
- A central power strip enables you to turn off multiple devices at once.
Click here for more energy conservation information, including guidance on reducing energy for each room in your home, to an energy usage calculator, and other tips. You will also find a video library to walk you through ways to make your home more energy efficient, step by step.
Please take care of yourselves, loved ones and neighbors.
