RELEASE: Weather Continues to Strain Energy Grid, Equipment
MBEF Urges Utilities, Elected Officials to Care for Consumers, Take Action on Legislation
Jefferson City, MO – Headlines across the state showcase the impact winter weather has had on Missouri’s electric grid and equipment. Missourians for a Balanced Energy Future reminds consumers to stay safe and urges public officials and utilities to take action in improving energy infrastructure.
Last week the New York Times reported that cold temperatures put such a strain on the energy grid in Texas that two power plants were knocked offline, which in turn caused a group of electric utilities to place a full-page ad in the Austin American-Statesman that read:
“With low temperatures earlier this week, we narrowly escaped rolling blackouts. We won’t be so lucky in the years ahead if we don’t take action now.”
MBEF Executive Director Irl Scissors said, “Missouri is in the exact same boat. These outages might be caused by unusually cold and extended weather this year, but it won’t be long before it takes less than high winds and cold temperatures for outages to occur.”
Whether it was high winds that affected thousands of St. Louis and Kirksville residents, a transformer going down in Pacific, equipment failure that shut down a school in Cape Girardeau, or an accident that took down a pole in Washington, utilities have been working around the clock to get ahead of and deal with the aftermath of weather-related outages in Missouri.
Scissors went on to say, “The first priority for utilities and those that represent our communities is to keep people safe as these outages occur, but the second – and increasingly urgent – priority is to find a way to repair and improve our energy grid to prevent future problems.”
While, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 2013 tied as the fourth warmest year since records began in 1880, the first month in 2014 has been book-ended with arctic blasts that have dropped temperatures into the single digits and delivered below zero wind chills regularly.
Last week MBEF urged Missourians struggling to pay their energy bills, which may be higher due to the cold, extended winter weather, to contact their utility companies about assistance and budget billing options.
News reports also indicate that due to winter weather and availability, propane prices have skyrocketed. Attorney General Chris Koster is investigating the high prices. In the meantime, area charities are working to provide enough energy assistance to cover emergency supplies of propane for families in need. Families are also encouraged to conserve as much propane as possible to make current supplies last.
Consumers can find energy conservation tips on MBEF’s website at www.moenergyfuture.org/tips as well as www.energy.gov and www.ded.mo.gov/bee to curb energy use and keep bills lower.
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Contact: Adrianne Marsh (314) 827-6141
Missourians For A Balanced Energy Future | moenergyfuture.org | @MBEF | facebook.com/moenergyfuture
