We Energies asks customers to lower thermostats to 60
In an unprecedented move late Friday, We Energies asked customers to reduce their use of natural gas by lowering thermostats to 60-62 degrees. “This request comes after one of the interstate pipeline suppliers that supplies natural gas to We Energies experienced a significant equipment failure – reducing the amount of fuel they typically ship by 30%,” said a statement posted on the company’s website and social media . Vi Energy spokesman Brendan Conway identified the supplier as Guardian Pipeline, a subsidiary of Oklahoma-based ONEOK.”Earlier, Guardian experienced two valve failures at its Sycamore compressor station in DeKalb County, Illinois, resulting in reduced capacity on our system,”[ads1]; ONEOK spokesman . Brad Borror said in an email late Friday night. “Our crews are focused on solving the problem and restoring capacity in time. One valve has been restored to service and we continue to work on the other,” Borror added. Conway said. We Energi’s officials would reassess the situation on Saturday. The company’s unusual request for lowered thermostats across the state comes as Wisconsinites brave one of the coldest nights of the year. Two days before Christmas, homes are likely to have more people than usual as families gather for the holidays.”We understand that no one wants to turn down a thermostat when it’s really cold,” Conway said in a virtual interview, “But if we get people turn it down to 60-62 degrees, put on an extra sweater, an extra blanket, it will be cool but not dangerously cold and hopefully we can get the pipeline up and running and get everything up and running as quickly as possible.” Online, customers blast the company for the request. “Below these temperatures? It’s crazy,” one Twitter user responded. “Not with what I just paid on my last bill,” said another user. Many dismissed the question. !!,” one person wrote, referring to the Public Service Commission’s approval this month of a 10.9% rate increase for We Energies’ residential customers. The increase is expected to take effect in January. If customers complied with the request, the We Energies website said that it would “avoid a significant natural gas outage.” “The real problem will be turning it back on. It’s not like flipping a switch; it’s not like that. You literally have to go to every home; turn on their meter, enter their home; turn the pilot lights back on, check that all their natural gas appliances are working properly and safely, and that takes some time,” Conway added. The disclosure of the problem Friday came a day after Gov. Tony Evers signed an executive order declaring an energy emergency across the state.” @GovEvers has been briefed by the Public Service Commission and Wisconsin Emergency Management regarding the situation with We Energies,” a spokesperson tweeted, “Our office will remain in close contact with local, state and federal partners as we continue to monitor this carefully. situation.”
In an unprecedented move late Friday, We Energies asked customers to reduce their use of natural gas by lowering thermostats to 60-62 degrees.
“This request comes after one of the interstate pipeline suppliers that supplies natural gas to We Energies experienced a significant equipment failure – reducing the amount of fuel they typically ship by 30%,” said a statement posted on the company’s website and social media .
We Energies spokesman Brendan Conway identified the supplier as Guardian Pipeline, a subsidiary of Oklahoma-based ONEOK.
“Earlier [Friday]Guardian experienced two valve failures at its Sycamore compressor station in DeKalb County, Illinois, resulting in reduced capacity on our system,” ONEOK spokesman Brad Borror said in an email late Friday night.
“Our crews are focused on solving the problem and restoring capacity in time. One valve has been commissioned and we continue to work on the other,” Borror added.
Conway said We Energies officials would re-evaluate the situation on Saturday.
The company’s unusual request for lowered thermostats across the state comes as Wisconsinites brave one of the coldest nights of the year. Two days before Christmas, homes are likely to have more people than usual as families gather for the holiday.
“We understand that nobody wants to turn down a thermostat when it’s really cold,” Conway said in a virtual interview, “But if we get people to turn down to 60-62 degrees, put on an extra sweatshirt, an extra blanket, it’s going to be chilly, but not dangerously cold, and hopefully we’ll be able to get the pipeline up and running and get everything up and running as quickly as possible.”
This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in a different format, or you may find more information on their website.
Online, customers have blasted the company for the request.
“Below these temperatures? It’s crazy,” one Twitter user responded.
“Not with what I just paid on my last bill,” joked another user.
This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in a different format, or you may find more information on their website.
Many dismissed the question.
“Screw it to 75, thanks for raising my rates!!!,” wrote one person, referring to the Public Service Commission’s approval this month of a 10.9% rate increase for We Energies’ residential customers. The increase is expected to take effect in January.
If customers complied with the request, the We Energies website said it would “avoid a significant natural gas outage.”
“The real problem is turning it back on. It’s not like flipping a switch; it’s not like that. You literally have to go to every home; turn on their meter, go into their home; turn on their control light , check that all their natural gas appliances are working properly and safely, and that takes some time,” Conway added.
The revelation of the problem Friday came a day after Gov. Tony Evers signed an executive order declaring a statewide energy emergency.
This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in a different format, or you may find more information on their website.
“@GovEvers has been briefed by the Public Service Commission and Wisconsin Emergency Management regarding the situation with We Energies,” a spokesperson tweeted, “Our office will remain in close contact with local, state and federal partners as we continue to closely monitor this situation.”
