Amid sub-zero temperatures, more than one million We Energies customers across Wisconsin are being asked to conserve natural gas due to a pipeline failure
We Energies asked its customers to immediately turn their thermostats to 62 degrees or lower Friday night to prevent widespread outages.
Guardian Pipeline notified customers Friday that it had restricted the northbound flow of gas on one of its interstate pipelines due to unscheduled maintenance at a compressor station in Illinois.
We Energies spokesperson Brendan Conway said Guardian had cut its gas supply to the company by 30%.
Conway said the utility draws from LPG and propane storage facilities and has cut gas supplies to business customers whose contracts allow for service interruptions. But due to the extreme cold gripping most of the nation, the utility is unable to get gas from other pipeline suppliers.
A spokesperson for the pipeline company said one of two malfunctioning valves had been restored as of Friday evening and crews were working on the other to restore capacity “in a timely manner.”[ads1];
We Energies said it would review the situation and update customers on Saturday. No update was given from 06.00 Saturday.
In addition to turning down thermostats, the company asked residents to avoid using secondary gas heaters, furnaces, stoves and tumble dryers.
The National Weather Service predicted low temperatures of zero to 14 below across Wisconsin Friday night and highs mostly in the single digits, with much of the state under a wind chill advisory.
Winter survival tips
With temperatures falling below freezing and wind chills falling well below that, emergency officials are urging residents to stay safe. The combination of drifting snow and low temperatures also makes travel particularly treacherous. Here are some tips to ride out the storm.
• Stay indoors if possible. Limit outdoor time for pets.
• If you must go out, dress in several loose-fitting layers. Wear a hat, gloves and snow boots. Use a scarf to cover your mouth and face.
• Know the signs and symptoms of hypothermia, including shivering, fatigue, confusion and slurred speech.
• Know the signs and symptoms of frostbite, including redness or pain in any area of the skin.
• Check about friends, family and neighbours. People most likely to be injured by the cold are older adults, babies, people who spend a lot of time outside, such as the homeless and hunters, and people who drink alcohol or use drugs.
• Prepare emergency kits for your home and vehicle that include blankets, snacks and water, medications and other essential supplies. Keep the gas tank at least half full. Go to readywisconsin.wi.gov/make-a-kit for tips on how to prepare emergency kits.
• Make sure the snow doesn’t block outdoor furnaces and water heater vents, which can cause dangerous levels of carbon monoxide to build up in a home.
If the power goes out:
• Close off unused spaces and limit the number of times you open external doors.
• Open cabinets to prevent pipes from freezing; in the event of an extended power outage, leave a faucet partially open to keep the water moving.
• Never use a stove, oven, grill, or unvented heater to keep warm, and don’t run portable generators indoors, as these devices emit carbon monoxide, an odorless gas that can be deadly.
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