Days of freezing temperatures across Mississippi have increased demand for gas and electricity. Some utility companies in Mississippi are urging customers to reduce their usage. One company is trying to avoid rolling outages.
Mississippians are being asked to keep thermostats at 68, close vents in unused rooms and limit using appliances to help conserve energy. Entergy spokesperson Mara Hartmann says the extreme cold temperatures across the mid United States has led to a surge in demand. She says their supplier put them on notice Monday to get the word out.
“They’re like traffic controllers in that they control the flow of electricity along transmission lines from Canada all the way down to the Gulf states,” said Hartmann.
Freezing rain and sleet have downed some power lines, leaving several thousand Mississippians without electricity. Hartmann says some states are experiencing rolling outages to preserve capacity to meet demand.
“In Texas and Southwest Louisiana they’ve already had to go to some of these prolonged outages,” said Hartmann.
The heaviest usage of electricity occurs between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. according to Hartmann. That’s when people are cooking dinner and children and maybe playing video games. Linda Waters with Atmos Energy is also asking customers to conserve energy.
“We’re asking businesses to minimize their usage as much as possible. Customers may not be aware if you have a gas water heater 25 percent of the energy consumed in your home is consumed through your water heater,” said Waters.
Waters also warns against using a stove top or oven to generate heat-it can be dangerous. She adds if you smell gas leave your home and call 911.
Mississippi Power is reporting 2,300 customers are without power. Company officials say they should have most of the power restored to homes and businesses Tuesday night.
