Local power customers asked to conserve electricity

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Two local utility companies are asking customers to conserve power until further notice.

On Tuesday, Bowling Green Municipal Utilities and Warren Rural Electric Cooperative Corporation asked customers to reduce their non-essential electricity use.

“This is simply a precautionary measure,” said Mark Iverson, BGMU general manager. “Anytime we experience a period of extreme cold, it significantly increases the demand for electricity. Together with TVA, we are proactively taking steps to reduce energy consumption by asking our customers to take small practical steps that can have a big impact on our preparation to meet the demand for electricity.”

This includes adjusting your thermostat to a temperature just warm enough to keep you comfortable and turning it down a degree from there. WRECC suggests 68 degrees Fahrenheit.

Using floor and ceiling fans with heating can help you stay comfortable while lowering your thermostat a few degrees. In addition, utility officials recommend maximizing loads with major appliances and doing dishes and laundry later in the evening.

Officials also recommend lowering your hot water temperature to 120 degrees Fahrenheit and washing laundry with cold water. They say heating water accounts for 15 to 20% of energy consumption.

Other steps include turning off lights or electronics when you leave the room and opening blinds or curtains on the side of your home that receives sun.