UPDATE: Energy Emergency, Feb. 15, 2021
Earlier this morning, Monday, Feb. 15, the Southwest Power Pool put its 14-state region into a first-ever Energy Emergency Alert (EEA) Level 3, the highest level. Under EEA3, the SPP can order utilities to begin mandatory interruptions of electric service in order to ensure grid stability. Midwest Energy did not receive such an order.
At 2 pm Monday, the Southwest Power Pool downgraded the emergency to EEA Level 2, which encourages residences and businesses to conserve energy wherever safely possible. Midwest Energy requests customers continue to do that through Tuesday, in hopes that energy supplies will improve.
Should SPP return to an EEA Level 3, Midwest could be ordered to do mandatory interruptions. If ordered, we would interrupt service to non-critical facilities on a rotational basis, with each rotation lasting no more than two hours. Interruptions to critical facilities like hospitals and schools, as well as residences, will be avoided whenever possible.
To further reduce loads, Midwest Energy is again asking customers whose health permits to turn thermostats down, and to not use appliances with heavy energy consumption, continuing through mid-week. A few specific actions customers can take to make a significant impact on electric and natural gas demand:
- If your health permits, turn your furnace thermostat down 3 to 5 degrees lower than normal.
- Postpone using high-consumption appliances such as clothes dryers, ovens and dishwashers. Delaying laundry a day or two, or making microwave-friendly meals, and hand-washing dishes would save significant amounts of energy.
- Turn off any lights and appliances that you are not using.
We sincerely appreciate everyone’s efforts at conservation.