Outages sweep across Garrison
BY TYSON SMEDSTAD
Power outages may occur with little to no notice for the next few days due to extreme cold weather. This weather has led to regionwide electricity use that exceeds the amount of power stored.
Many utilities in North Dakota are experiencing controlled outages because of high demand for energy and low amounts of renewable generation including wind and solar throughout the region. These outages are used as a last resort to preserve the reliability of the electric system as a whole.
Western Area Power Administration is currently cycling sunstations to reduce load in the region and McLean Electric is not getting notification of when the substations are being cycled.
They have indicated that controlled outages may occur in order to stabilize the transmission system and prevent failure of the entire system.
These outages began on Tuesday and residents are asked to prepare for a loss of power for up to 45 minutes at a time. It is important for residents to conserve energy whenever possible.
If the power is off more longer than 45 minutes, call 1-800-263-4922.
Some tips for conserving energy include:
Turn down your thermostat as low as tolerable – 65 degrees or low
