Duke Energy asks its customers to reduce electricity use

Duke Energy officials are asking customers to reduce electricity use during the next 24 hours to help avoid potential high-energy demand on the electrical grid caused by frigid temperatures. The low temperatures will put higher stress on mechanical equipment used to generate and deliver electricity. Isolated equipment problems are possible, which could result in unplanned scattered outages.

The most critical time to reduce electricity usage is Thursday between 5 a.m. and 10 a.m.

"The forecasted conditions are very similar to those we experienced last January during the Polar Vortex, and are affecting a large portion of the country," said Nelson Peeler, Duke Energy vice president of transmission system operations. "We currently have sufficient generation resources to meet our customers' energy needs, but we know from experience that conditions can change quickly, and we need to be prepared."

To help lessen energy demand on the power grid during the next 24 hours and reduce the potential for isolated power outages, Duke Energy offers the following tips:

• Reduce your thermostat to the lowest comfortable setting when home, and bump the thermostat down a degree or two when leaving home.
• Turn off unnecessary lighting.
• Postpone household chores that require electrical appliances.
• Unplug cellphone / tablet chargers. These devices draw energy even when not in use.
• Operate ceiling fans in a clockwise direction, which pushes warm air back down into the room.
• Leave your drapes or blinds open to allow the sun's rays to warm the house.

Duke Energy has a detailed plan to manage the power grid in extreme conditions:

• Running all available generation units;
• purchasing power from other utilities.

"If necessary and conditions change, we would need to initiate forced power reductions that would result in rotating or sustained power outages across the grid," Peeler said.

Dallas-area power outages to be restored late Sunday night

Nearly all Oncor Electric customers will have power restored by late Sunday night, Oncor officials announced Saturday. The company has increased their workforce by nearly 50 percent, or 1,200 personnel, by bringing more contractors and employees from other utilities to assist in repairs.

In less than 24 hours, workers restored power to 140,000 customers.

Significant progress was made on Friday as crews reduced outages from a peak of 270,000 to about 130,000. Icy conditions and dangerous roads significantly slowed the crews' progress.

"We continue to call on additional resources to assist with restoring power around the clock until everyone is restored, and this winter emergency is over," said Jim Greer, chief operating officer for Oncor. Greer noted the only customers that may not be restored are those customers whose equipment on their homes was damaged or those customers in rural areas.

With the addition of 1,200 out-of-area workers, Oncor will have more than 3,700 workers completing repairs.

Oncor Electric Delivery Company LLC operates the largest distribution and transmission system in Texas, delivering power to more than 3.2 million homes and businesses and operating approximately 119,000 miles of transmission and distribution lines in Texas.

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