With temperatures pushing well into the 90s again for Thursday (08.24) MiEnergy Cooperative has issued a Peak Alert due to high demand for electricity on the regional grid.Â
MiEnergy is calling for electricity conservation from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday. Members on the co-op’s energy management programs for air conditioning, irrigation and dairy water heaters will also be affected during that time frame.
 MiEnergy is working closely with Dairyland Power Cooperative, its wholesale power provider, to monitor grid reliability. MISO – the regional transmission operator – has escalated its maximum generation alert from Wednesday (08.23) to a maximum generation step 2 event for Thursday from noon to 10 p.m. Â
MISO says this signals that grid reliability may be at risk, which means the amount of electricity available on the grid is critically low and may not be able to meet the demand for electricity. Members participating in the co-op’s energy management programs for standby generation and residential water heaters may see devices automatically activated. If activated, auto-start standby generators will receive notification two hours in advance of a four-hour interruption.
 According to MISO, for the first time in over a decade, all major cities across its footprint will experience their hottest forecasted temperatures on the same day, intensifying peak load numbers.
Citizens can help by shifting electricity use to 6 p.m. or later today.
- Turn off or unplug all non-essential lights, televisions, electronics and other appliances.
- Cook food in a microwave or grill instead of using a stovetop or oven.
- Raise your thermostat (increase A/C level) as much as you are safely able.
- Shift high electricity use activities, such as laundry, vacuuming and running the dishwasher until demand has decreased.
- Delay electric vehicle charging.
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