Willow Springs, MO. – Beverly Hicks, City Administrator of Willow Springs, sent out a press release on Wednesday, December 21, 2022 mentioning a possible critical power alert may be issued depending on how much stress the system may receive. Read below for more:
The City of Willow Springs is carefully monitoring the severe winter weather approaching and the changing energy markets. Missouri Public Utility Alliance (MPUA) is estimating that Thursday and Friday will be the highest energy usage day in our region and both Regional Transmission Organizations, the Southwest Power Pool (SPP) and the Mid-continent Independent System Operator (MISO), have already issued alerts for the Mid-west. As temperatures plummet in the next couple of days and supply and demand increases, the possibility of higher critical alerts may need to be issued. Therefore, the City of Willow Springs urges customers to do their part in reducing energy consumption.
The following are tips to stay safe and help reduce the amount of energy consumed during this critical period:
- Set thermostats at 68 degrees or below while you are home and 60 degrees when you are away from home
- Replace your heating systems filter regularly
- Run washer, dryer, and dishwasher only when you have full loads
- Reduce your temperature setting on your water heater to 120 degrees or less
- Replace weather stripping on exterior doors
- Caulk window and door frames on the exterior side
- Inspect and clean your dryer vent tube on your dryer. Built up lint can lead to longer drying times and can be a fire hazard.
- Don’t’ block vents and radiators with furniture, curtains, or rugs
- Improper use of an electric heater can be hazardous if not used properly. Do not leave one unattended.
- Take 5-minute showers instead of baths.
- Wear layers of clothing and use extra blankets
One thing to remember, the bigger the difference between the inside and outside temperature, the more energy you will use to heat a house, which in turn increases your utility bill.
Example: If the outside temperature is 20 degrees and the inside is set to 75 degrees, this 55-degree difference is going to significantly cost more than if you lower the thermostat.
Thank you for your help.
Beverly Hicks, City Administrator
