City Utilities is warning customers about upcoming cold weather and asking for their help in keeping demand low.
The National Weather Service anticipates wind chill values as low as -20, and 3-5 inches of snow in the KTTS listening area. That means a lot of natural gas for a lot the City Springfield City Utilities customers.
City Utilities is asking that every customer do the following:
- Turn down your thermostat at least 2 degrees from your normal setting. City Utilities suggests 68 as an average winter temperature.
- Limit the use of natural gas fireplaces.
- Limit the use of plug-in electric space heaters.
- Turn down the temperature setting of your water heater.
- Look for opportunities within your home to lessen the use of electricity and natural gas during this period.
City Utilities says they have negotiated with customers who are capable of temporarily switching to other sources of fuel and heat in an effort to free up supplies for other customers that cannot switch. This agreement is in effect until Tuesday.
“This is an unprecedented weather event that is impacting only all of our customers, but natural gas utility customers throughout the Midwest” said Gary Gibson, the CEO of City Utilities in Springfield, and its General Manager.
Natural gas wells are freezing in the southwest and, according to City Utilities, are driving prices up from $3.00 a dekatherm to $400.00 per dekatherm, or a 13,332.33% increase. This means that gas prices will likely go up in the future as well.
In addition, City Utilities will be injecting a mixture of air and propane into the natural gas transmission lines in order to assist with peak demand. This is the first time City Utilities has done this.
