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Business

We Energies asks more than 1 million Wisconsin customers to conserve natural gas after pipeline malfunction

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Amid sub-zero temperatures, more than one million We Energies customers across Wisconsin are being asked to conserve natural gas because of a pipeline malfunction

We Energies asked its customers to immediately turn their thermostats to 62 degrees or lower Friday evening to prevent a widespread service outage.

Guardian Pipeline notified customers Friday that it had constrained the northbound flow of gas on one of its interstate pipelines due to unplanned maintenance at a compressor station in Illinois.

We Energies spokesperson Brendan Conway said Guardian had cut the utility’s gas supply by 30%.

Conway said the utility is drawing from liquified gas and propane storage facilities and has cut gas deliveries to business customers whose contracts allow for service interruptions. But because of the extreme cold gripping most of the nation, the utility is unable to get gas from other pipeline suppliers.

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A spokesperson for the pipeline company said one of two malfunctioning valves had been restored as of Friday night and crews were working on the second to restore capacity “in a timely manner.”

We Energies said it would reassess the situation and update customers on Saturday. No update had been provided as of 6 a.m. Saturday.

In addition to turning down thermostats, the company asked residents to avoid using secondary gas heaters, ovens, stoves and clothes dryers.

The National Weather Service was forecasting low temperatures of zero to 14 below across Wisconsin Friday night and highs mostly in the single digits, with much of the state under a wind chill advisory.

Winter survival tips

With temperatures falling below zero and wind chills plunging far below that, emergency officials are urging residents to stay safe. The combination of drifting snow and low temperatures is also making travel particularly treacherous. Here are some tips for riding out the storm.

• If possible, stay indoors. Limit outdoor time for pets.

• If you have to go out, dress in several loose-fitting layers. Wear a hat, mittens and snow boots. Use a scarf to cover your mouth and face.

• Know the signs and symptoms of hypothermia, including shivering, exhaustion, confusion and slurred speech.

• Know the signs and symptoms of frostbite, including redness or pain in any skin area.

• Check on friends, family and neighbors. People most likely to be hurt from the cold are older adults, babies, people who spend lots of time outside, such as the homeless and hunters, and people who drink alcohol or use drugs.

• Prepare emergency kits for your home and vehicle that include blankets, snacks and water, medication and other essentials. Keep your gas tank at least half full. Go to readywisconsin.wi.gov/make-a-kit for tips on how to prepare emergency kits.

• Check to make sure snow is not blocking outdoor furnace and hot water heater vents, which could cause dangerous levels of carbon monoxide to build up in a home.

If your power goes out:

• Close off unused spaces and limit the number of times you open exterior doors.

• Open cupboards to keep pipes from freezing; in the event of an extended outage, leave a faucet partially open to keep water moving.

• Never use a stove, oven, grill or unvented heater to stay warm, and do not run portable generators in enclosed spaces as these devices give off carbon monoxide, an odorless gas that can be fatal.

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Business

Natural gas failure, lower thermostats ‘immediately’

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MILWAUKEE – We Energies on Friday, Dec. 23 urged customers to reduce natural gas use by “immediately” lowering their thermostats to 60 to 62 degrees.

In a news release, the utility said the move will allow customers to stay safe, warm and help avoid a significant natural gas outage.

This request comes after an interstate pipeline supplier that provides natural gas to We Energies experienced a significant equipment failure that is limiting the amount of fuel they are sending, the utility said.

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The impacted pipeline is one of multiple sources We Energies uses to receive natural gas. On a typical day, an issue like this would not require customers to reduce their usage. However, with extreme cold setting in over much of the U.S., We Energies said it is unable to receive additional natural gas from its other pipeline suppliers.

We Energies has already taken numerous steps to reduce demand for natural gas, the release said, including drawing from its liquefied natural gas and propane storage facilities, and reducing natural gas to business customers who have agreed to special billing in these types of events.

We Energies strongly urges customers to reduce their natural gas use by lowering their thermostats and avoid using other natural gas appliances like fireplaces, dryers or ovens.

The company is working to maintain service to emergency and critical facilities. Customers should take the following actions to help reduce natural gas demand:

  • Set thermostats between 60 to 62 degrees. Add layers or blankets to keep warm when lowering a thermostat’s temperature.
  • Close blinds or drapes at night and avoid opening doors to retain heat. Open blinds during the day to let in heat from the sun.
  • Avoid using secondary natural gas heating sources, such as natural gas fireplaces.
  • Use natural gas ranges sparingly. Prepare food with slow cookers or microwaves.

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We Energies said it expects the shortage will last throughout the rest of the day Friday and will be reassessed Saturday.

Statement from We Energies:

We truly appreciate and thank our customers for your understanding and patience as we work to manage these challenging conditions and keep all of our customers safe and warm.

We will be working tirelessly to resume normal operations as soon as possible.

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