AMARILLO, Texas (NEWS RELEASE) – Xcel Energy and the electric cooperatives* in the Texas South Plains, Texas Panhandle and eastern and southeastern New Mexico regions have declared an Energy Alert and are urging customers to cut back on their use of electricity. The alert is in effect this evening until 10 p.m. Central Daylight Time, 9 p.m. Mountain.
Xcel Energy and the electric cooperatives declare an Energy Alert only when a reduction in electricity use is urgently needed to maintain the electricity system and service to customers.
“We are making a public appeal to our customers to turn off lights and appliances unless it would harm their health,” said Adrian Rodriguez, president, Xcel Energy – New Mexico, Texas. “We take our responsibility to supply energy to our customers very seriously, and we declared this Energy Alert only after exhausting all other options. Our customers have helped us through similar situations in the past, and we look to them today to help us maintain the integrity of their electricity system.”
Suggestions on how reduce electric load include:
- Either turn off air conditioning or increase your thermostat setting to 85 degrees, slowly lowering the setting after 7 p.m. to a more comfortable setting. This does not apply to customers who depend on air conditioning for health reasons.
- Put off household chores that involve electrical appliances until after 7 p.m. (dishwashers, washing machines, clothes dryers, vacuum cleaners, etc.)
- Put off tasks at work, if possible, that would demand electricity (power tools, maintenance equipment, etc.).
- Turn off televisions and electronic equipment unless they are necessary to conduct business or to ensure your health and safety.
- Turn off unnecessary lighting, leaving on only enough to move about safely indoors.
However, elderly people or people who have health concerns should NOT turn off their air conditioners.
Xcel Energy and the electric cooperatives forecasts indicate that, unless customers cut back on use, electricity demand will exceed the amount of electricity the companies will be able to supply. Failure to reduce electricity demand could result in controlled electric service interruptions within the region.
Xcel Energy and electric cooperatives officials declared the Energy Alert only after all other efforts to reduce electricity demand or to increase supply were implemented. Those include:
· Bringing online as many power plant generating units as possible and buying as much electricity as possible from other utilities.
· Reducing electricity use as much as possible at Xcel Energy power plants and office buildings.
· Interrupting power to industrial and agricultural customers who signed up for lower interruptible rates.
· Asking other commercial and industrial customers to curtail their energy use.
* Electric cooperatives in the Texas South Plains, Texas Panhandle and eastern and southeastern New Mexico regions include:
- Bailey County Electric Cooperative Association (Texas)
- Big Country Electric Cooperative, Inc. (Texas)
- Deaf Smith Electric Cooperative, Inc. (Texas)
- Greenbelt Electric Cooperative, Inc. (Texas)
- Lamb County Electric Cooperative, Inc. (Texas)
- Lighthouse Electric Cooperative, Inc. (Texas)
- Lyntegar Electric Cooperative, Inc. (Texas)
- North Plains Electric Cooperative, Inc. (Texas)
- Rita Blanca Electric Cooperative, Inc. (Texas)
- South Plains Electric Cooperative, Inc. (Texas)
- Swisher Electric Cooperative, Inc. (Texas)
- Central Valley Electric Cooperative (New Mexico)
- Farmers Electric Cooperative (New Mexico)
- Roosevelt County Electric Cooperative (New Mexico)
- Lea County Electric Cooperative (New Mexico)
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