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Energy companies in Arkansas ask customers to limit electricity

Energy companies are asking customers to reduce electricity use to avoid periodic outages. Extreme weather conditions have put a strain on the MISO power grid.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Energy companies are asking customers to conserve power due to a strain on the grid.

Arkansas's power grid, Midcontinent Independent System Operator, spans across several states — most of which are all facing the arctic blast at once.

"There is a high demand for electricity use in our area due to extreme weather conditions," Entergy Arkansas tweeted on Friday. "We strongly urge customers to voluntarily reduce electricity use now to avoid periodic outages."

Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas asked customers to limit usage for the next 24 hours as Vice President Andrew Lachowsky described it as an emergency situation with rolling electrical outages possible.

“This is an unprecedented time," Lachowsky said. "We urge electric cooperative members to immediately reduce the use of electrical requirements by turning off or not using non-essential lights and electric appliances, especially electric water heaters, clothes dryers, and dishwashers and to turn heating thermostats to lower settings."

There are things you can do to limit your electric consumption: 

  • Unplug the appliances you aren't using
  • Hold off on washing your dishes or clothes if you have an electric water heater
  • Turn down the thermostat a couple of degrees

"If you're like me and you have a home full of people and that can generally make your heart warmer anyway, so just turn that down a little bit," Rob Roedel with Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas said. "If everyone helps, that makes a world of difference."

Roedel said space heaters can use a lot of electricity too and that people should use them sparingly. Not doing so could lead to a higher-than-average bill.

Entergy Arkansas said if rolling blackouts do happen it would likely affect residential areas as well as commercial customers.

"If we were to get to that point, we would rotate," Brandi Hinkle with Entergy Arkansas said. "No customer would be out for more than 30 minutes at a time."

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