INDIANA— A “serious power supply emergency” has been declared for central and southern Indiana as a historic winter storm places unprecedented strain on the regional electric grid.
Hoosier Energy, a generation and transmission cooperative, joined by 18 local utility cooperatives, is making an urgent plea for all residents to reduce their electricity consumption immediately to prevent the risk of rolling blackouts and emergency service interruptions.
Impacted Areas
The conservation call is being issued through a massive network of local providers, including:
- Clark County REMC
- Orange County REMC
- Harrison REMC
- Jackson County REMC
- Southern Indiana Power
- South Central Indiana REMC
- Bartholomew County REMC
- Johnson County REMC
The request comes as the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) and PJM Interconnected, which manage the power grid across the Midwest and 13 eastern states, report record-breaking demand. With temperatures dropping into the single digits and wind chills hitting -25°F, the demand for heating has pushed the grid to a “historically high” level of stress.
“Without swift, voluntary conservation of electricity now, the region could face temporary emergency service interruptions,” a Hoosier Energy spokesperson warned.
How You Can Help
Residents in Indiana and southeast Illinois are asked to take the following steps to ease the burden on the power supply:
- Adjust Your Thermostat: Lower your heat to 68°F or lower. If you are away from home, consider dropping it further, but keep it above 55°F to prevent pipes from freezing.
- Delay Major Appliances: Postpone using high-energy machines like dishwashers, washing machines, and clothes dryers until the emergency status is lifted.
- Limit Lighting: Turn off all unnecessary lights and unplug electronic devices that are not in use.
- Water Heating: Turn down the temperature setting on your electric water heater.
Protecting Your Home During the Freeze
While conserving energy, officials also remind residents to take steps to prevent property damage during the deep freeze. This includes letting faucets drip at the width of a pencil lead and opening cabinet doors under sinks to allow warm air to circulate around plumbing.
Utility crews are currently on standby to address any outages caused by the heavy snow and high winds, but they warn that restoration may be delayed if road conditions remain at a “Red” travel status.
