FREE ACCESS: Electric co-op customers asked to conserve energy Thursday morning

The winter storm that recently blew into the area brought lots of snow and low temperatures, with the lowest temperatures scheduled to arrive Thursday morning. As a result, some electric cooperative customers are being asked to conserve energy for a few hours.

Both SEMO Electric Co-op and Ozark Border Electric Co-op posted to their respective social media accounts the following message on Wednesday afternoon: “Associated Electric Cooperative, the wholesale power generator for Ozark Border Electric Cooperative, is requesting members conserve energy due to extreme winter weather and maximum load on our electric grid. To help safeguard the grid, please conserve energy Thursday morning February 20, from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. by lowering your thermostat a few degrees, limiting the use of large appliances, and turning off any non-essential electric devices. By taking small steps to save energy together, we all can make a big difference.”

Both SEMO Electric and Ozark Border are under the same network by with receiving power Associated Electric Cooperative.

“With the temperatures getting as low as they are forecasting, it’s just a precautionary measure we’re asking to implement,” explained Ozark Border Member Services Supervisor Cherie Cook. “Because from 6-10 a.m. is identified as peak usage hours as people wake up and get ready for work. And there will likely also be some people staying home due to the weather. So, this is an effort to keep from taxing the grid too much.”

Cook went on to explain that no outages are predicted, but with the windchill dipping below zero Thursday morning, an ounce of prevention may be worth a pound of cure.

“This is just a way for us to ensure some breathing room during that peak usage period,” Cook explained. “I have no doubt we will get through this without difficulty.”

Cook said customers should realize that certain devices draw current while plugged in, even if they aren’t being used at the time.

“Pretty much anything with a clock will be pulling power,” Cook advised. “DVD players, TVs, computers, coffee makers... all of those draw power while plugged in. It’s also recommended to unplug hair driers and toasters when they aren’t being used.”

Poplar Bluff Municipal Utilities General Manager Bill Bach said he is confident there will be no issues in town and isn’t recommending a period of energy conservation.

“We haven’t set a new peak since 2004. I’m very confident in our operations here,” Bach remarked. “As far as the cold weather is concerned — the machines we use were designed with harsh cold weather in mind.”

In addition to having confidence in municipal utilities equipment, Bach went on to explain that many people have energy saving devices already at work in their homes.

“Think about it: so many people have switched over to energy saving light bulbs, and so many appliances like new refrigerators are made to run more efficiently without pulling so much power as older models,” Bach noted. “So I think the city customers shouldn’t have any problems.”