Around midday Monday, area residents began to report that their power was turned off amid brutally cold temperatures. Subzero temperatures and extremely cold wind chills continued Monday, with record lows likely Tuesday morning.Omaha Public Power District President Tim Burke told KETV that forced outages, affecting those served by the Southwest Power Pool, were planned to last about an hour. OPPD, LES, NPPD are all served by the Southwest Power Pool.The Southwest Power Pool reported on Twitter: “After declaring an Energy Emergency Alert Level 3 at 10:08 a.m. this morning, and after exhausting all other options to ensure the continued reliability of the regional grid, SPP is directing member utilities to implement controlled interruptions of service effective immediately.”Officials say this is happening because there is not enough power available to keep up with customer demand and that this type of demand reduction is only used as a last resort to preserve the reliability of the electric grid. Burke said around noon they started outages in Bellevue and the power was returned around 1 p.m. Residents in La Vista reported losing power for about 30 minutes at 1 p.m.This is the first time OPPD has had to resort to this measure. Burke asks that customers don’t panic, saying they will “load shed” for an hour at a time in different parts of the customer area. This won’t affect hospitals, jails, other critical industries. He said officials will not be able to give a warning to customers to let them know if their power will be affected. Officials called the event “unprecedented.””It’s a last resort that we understand puts a burden on our member utilities and the customers they serve, but it’s a step we’re consciously taking to prevent circumstances from getting worse, which could result in uncontrolled outages of even greater magnitude,” chief operating officer Lanny Nickell said. Burke said a big part of the problem is a lack of wind, which is affecting supply.The Omaha Public Power District asked customers Sunday to add blankets and lower the thermostat as subzero temperatures push electrical infrastructure to the limit across much of the Central United States.“These prolonged, frigid temperatures are increasing demand for energy across our service territory and for our partner utilities,” said Tim Burke, president and CEO of OPPD in a news release. OPPD is part of the Southwest Power Pool, which asked all members to begin energy conservation at 11:59 p.m. Sunday. SPP declared an Energy Emergency Alert to balance the high demand for electricity.OPPD said customers can help by lowering the thermostat, and dressing more warmly in the house. Customers should also make sure the fireplace damper is closed when not in use.A release from the utility offered options for those looking to help:What should I do?If you are healthy enough to do so, turn down your thermostat by 3 degrees. (Note: Older adults may want to raise the thermostat to prevent hypothermia).To help stay warm, wear a sweater or other layers of clothing.Close the fireplace damper when not in use to avoid losing heat through the chimney.Leave curtains, blinds and/or shades open in direct sunlight to warm the room and close them at night to prevent heat loss through the windows.To avoid frozen pipes, allow heat to circulate around meters and pipes located near outside walls, in uninsulated cabinets or other enclosed areas.Where previous freeze-ups have been a problem, a slight trickle of water from the faucet may keep a pipe from freezing.PROTECT YOURSELF DURING A POWER OUTAGE:Keep freezers and refrigerators closed.Have phones charged and batteries available.Use a generator, but ONLY outdoors and away from windows.Do not use a gas stove and ovens to heat your home.Disconnect appliances and electronics to avoid damage from electrical surges.Have alternate plans for refrigerating medicines or using power-dependent medical devices.If safe, go to an alternate location for heat or cooling. Be a good neighbor. Check on the welfare of others.Read more here
Around midday Monday, area residents began to report that their power was turned off amid brutally cold temperatures.
Subzero temperatures and extremely cold wind chills continued Monday, with record lows likely Tuesday morning.
Omaha Public Power District President Tim Burke told KETV that forced outages, affecting those served by the Southwest Power Pool, were planned to last about an hour. OPPD, LES, NPPD are all served by the Southwest Power Pool.
The Southwest Power Pool reported on Twitter: “After declaring an Energy Emergency Alert Level 3 at 10:08 a.m. this morning, and after exhausting all other options to ensure the continued reliability of the regional grid, SPP is directing member utilities to implement controlled interruptions of service effective immediately.”
Officials say this is happening because there is not enough power available to keep up with customer demand and that this type of demand reduction is only used as a last resort to preserve the reliability of the electric grid.
Burke said around noon they started outages in Bellevue and the power was returned around 1 p.m. Residents in La Vista reported losing power for about 30 minutes at 1 p.m.
This is the first time OPPD has had to resort to this measure. Burke asks that customers don’t panic, saying they will “load shed” for an hour at a time in different parts of the customer area. This won’t affect hospitals, jails, other critical industries.
He said officials will not be able to give a warning to customers to let them know if their power will be affected.
Officials called the event “unprecedented.”
“It’s a last resort that we understand puts a burden on our member utilities and the customers they serve, but it’s a step we’re consciously taking to prevent circumstances from getting worse, which could result in uncontrolled outages of even greater magnitude,” chief operating officer Lanny Nickell said.
Burke said a big part of the problem is a lack of wind, which is affecting supply.
The Omaha Public Power District asked customers Sunday to add blankets and lower the thermostat as subzero temperatures push electrical infrastructure to the limit across much of the Central United States.
“These prolonged, frigid temperatures are increasing demand for energy across our service territory and for our partner utilities,” said Tim Burke, president and CEO of OPPD in a news release.
OPPD is part of the Southwest Power Pool, which asked all members to begin energy conservation at 11:59 p.m. Sunday. SPP declared an Energy Emergency Alert to balance the high demand for electricity.
OPPD said customers can help by lowering the thermostat, and dressing more warmly in the house. Customers should also make sure the fireplace damper is closed when not in use.
- A release from the utility offered options for those looking to help:
- If you are healthy enough to do so, turn down your thermostat by 3 degrees. (Note: Older adults may want to raise the thermostat to prevent hypothermia).
- To help stay warm, wear a sweater or other layers of clothing.
- Close the fireplace damper when not in use to avoid losing heat through the chimney.
- Leave curtains, blinds and/or shades open in direct sunlight to warm the room and close them at night to prevent heat loss through the windows.
- To avoid frozen pipes, allow heat to circulate around meters and pipes located near outside walls, in uninsulated cabinets or other enclosed areas.
- Where previous freeze-ups have been a problem, a slight trickle of water from the faucet may keep a pipe from freezing.
What should I do?
PROTECT YOURSELF DURING A POWER OUTAGE:
- Keep freezers and refrigerators closed.
- Have phones charged and batteries available.
- Use a generator, but ONLY outdoors and away from windows.
- Do not use a gas stove and ovens to heat your home.
- Disconnect appliances and electronics to avoid damage from electrical surges.
- Have alternate plans for refrigerating medicines or using power-dependent medical devices.
- If safe, go to an alternate location for heat or cooling.
- Be a good neighbor. Check on the welfare of others.
Read more here