Southwestern Electric Power Co. (SWEPCO), is asking all customers to conserve electricity for 48 hours beginning at 12:01 a.m. Monday as extreme cold grips the region.

SPP, the regional organization that manages the electric grid across 17 central and western U.S. states, reports a high demand for electricity that is expected to increase over the next several days because of persistent, widespread and extreme cold.

Steps to reduce electricity use include:

  • Turn down the thermostat 2 to 3 degrees, especially overnight. (Consider wearing additional layers of clothing to remain comfortable.)
  • Set programmable thermostats to lower temperatures when no one is home.
  • Limit use of large appliances (i.e., dishwasher, washer, dryer, etc.)
  • Avoid using unnecessary lighting and other electrical devices.
  • Open curtains on the sunny side of the house to warm up your home. If there’s no sun, close the shades to keep warm air inside.

SWEPCO asks its customers to take whatever measures they can to limit the use of electricity, so that no further actions are necessary.  Customers’ combined efforts can reduce overall demand for electricity and help ease the situation, according to the Press Release.

SWEPCO will provide updates through the news media, on SWEPCO.com, and on the company’s Facebook and Twitter pages.

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