Cleco says it will begin periodic power outages to some customers on Tuesday to help protect the stability of Louisiana's power grid and prevent prolonged outages.
Cleco was been notified by the regional reliability coordinator, Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO), that extremely cold temperatures are causing an increase in demand for power which is resulting in an overload of the power grid.
Cleco has been instructed to reduce demand on the power grid by beginning power outages to customers in Eunice, Opelousas, Ville Platte, Mamou, Oakdale and Washington.
“While our crews worked to prepare for this storm, a loss of generation combined with the peak load due to record-low temperatures have caused a strain on the power grid system. In an effort to prevent damage or lengthy power outages, Cleco was instructed by MISO to begin forced power outages,” said Marty Evans, manager of transmission operations. “At this time, we have not been given an estimated restoration time from MISO, and rolling outages in these areas will continue until further notice.”
Some actions customers with power can take to conserve energy include:
- Delay laundry, washing dishes, and other non-essential uses of electricity for conservation.
- Wash clothes with cold water, cook foods at the lowest possible setting and refrain from opening the oven door while baking.
- Don’t allow warmed air to escape from the home.
- Open blinds, drapes and curtains to let in warmth from the sun.
- Lower the central thermostat to 68 degrees or lower if possible.
“If customers decide to use a portable generator, use it safely and do not run it in an enclosed space,” said Evans.
For the latest information on Cleco power outage updates and restoration efforts, visit Cleco’s Storm Center page at www.cleco.com.
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