Anticipating more hot, humid weather and a strained power supply, Alliant Energy and Great River Energy are asking customers to conserve energy over the next few days.

Tuesday, August 07, 2001

Anticipating more hot, humid weather and a strained power supply, Alliant Energy and Great River Energy are asking customers to conserve energy over the next few days.

Extreme weather conditions coupled with transmission constraints and a forced outage at its Lansing Generating Station prompted Alliant to implement contingency plans in its Iowa service territory Monday. Steps included activating its commercial and industrial interruptible contracts and residential load control program, as well as issuing a public appeal for reduced consumption.

According to Eliot Protsch, president of Alliant Energy – IES/IPC Utilities, there is high probability for similar measures today.

&uot;From a system and a weather standpoint things are expected to be much the same,&uot; says Protsch. &uot;It’s essential we plan ahead and do what’s necessary to safeguard reliability. Had we not implemented our contingency plans today, it’s likely we would have hit an all time record peak.&uot;

Protsch said Alliant is committed to providing reliable energy services through the heat wave, but needs the public’s help.

&uot;Simple measures such as drawing the drapes and turning the thermostat up before leaving the house in the morning can have a significant impact on the power supply,&uot; says Protsch.

Great River Energy, which supplies power to member cooperatives throughout Minnesota, issued a peak alert, effective through Wednesday.

The companies offered the following suggestions for energy conservation:

Avoid using washing machines, clothes dryers and dishwashers

until after 9:00 p.m. tonight.

Turn off non-essential lights.

Turn off non-essential appliances and electrical equipment,

such as dehumidifiers, hot tubs, waterbeds and spare refrigerators.

Know what you want before opening the refrigerator or freezer,

so you can avoid opening the doors more often than necessary.

Where possible, turn off central air conditioners and use

fans instead.

Turn the air conditioner thermostat to 80 degrees, and make

sure all windows and doors are closed if the air conditioner

is running

Shade windows or close drapes on the south and west sides

of the home.

Avoid using range tops and ovens to prepare meals. Consider

using a microwave oven.

Customers are also encouraged to look after elderly neighbors and be mindful of pets.

&uot;Extreme weather is hard on people and animals,&uot; concludes Protsch.