The weather forecast for Hattiesburg, Miss on Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2018. Wochit
A critical electricity shortage has stabilized, said Brock Williamson with Southern Pine Electric.
Earlier this morning, hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses throughout the state, including many in the Pine Belt, were asked to reduce their electrical use, as the frigid weather continued.
Williamson said Southern Pine Electric, and others like Dixie Electric and Pearl River Valley Electric Power Association, get their electricity from energy supplier and producer Cooperative Energy of Hattiesburg. That company was experiencing a shortage of electricity due to the increased usage from the extreme low temperatures. All members are still being asked to temporarily reduce their electric usage until further notice.
"It 100 percent comes down to usage and it's putting a strain on Cooperative Energy's ability to meet those needs," Williamson said. "We are reaching out to our members, letting them know — any way they can reduce their usage, it would help."
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It is recommended members turn off all non-essential lighting and electrical appliances. Minimize the use of appliances that use large amounts of electricity such as water heaters, electric ovens and dryers, and set home thermostats to 68 degrees or lower until the emergency ends.
Kurt Brautigam, spokesman for Pearl River Valley Electric Power Association, said the highest demand was reached at 6 a.m.-8 a.m. Wednesday.
"Demands on the system are probably at record levels, and there is a finite supply," he said. "We are requesting that consumers use as little electricity as possible."
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Cooperative Energy serves about 423,000 homes and businesses in 55 of Mississippi's 82 counties. It has 11 member cooperatives.
Sara Peterson, spokeswoman for Cooperative Energy, said it is working with its member systems to resolve the issue after demand reached a record high. She said the critical situation has resolved, but the request for conservation is still in force.
"The important thing for everyone to understand is that electricity is not an unlimited resource," she said in an email. "This cold weather is causing heating systems to run more often and more frequently, causing a serious demand on our system.
"All available electric generation sources are working to meet this high demand."
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Brautigam said similar strains are put on the system during the dinner-time hours on extremely hot, summer days, but emergency electric heater use, like that being experienced now, consumes more energy than an air conditioner.
"If the situation does not improve, the next step will be to enact Cooperative Energy’s emergency load reduction plans, which may result in a loss of electricity for members on a rotating basis," Peterson said. "However, we do not anticipate enacting an emergency load reduction."
The freezing temperatures have caused some power outages. Pearl River Valley crews were working to restore power to about 300 customers. Mississippi Power was taking care of about 30 outages.
