The city of West Plains and Howell-Oregon Electric Cooperative have issued peak alerts due to increased demand for electricity caused by recent high temperatures.
Given the forecast of continued high temperatures in the mid to upper 90s for the next several days, the city utilities department is asking customers to reduce usage of major appliances and otherwise be mindful of conserving electricity until the hot weather passes.
“The most recent weather forecasts are calling for temperatures in the mid- to upper 90s to continue into next week. Like Howell-Oregon Electric Cooperative and other utility providers around the state, we are asking community members to conserve their electricity usage from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. this week,” city officials posted on the City of West Plains Facebook page.
Tips provided by the city include turning up the thermostat a few degrees so air conditioners run less, and limiting the use of major appliances like ovens and ranges or washers and dryers. City officials suggest using toasters, microwaves and other small appliances to make meals because they use less power to operate.
A reminder to turn off unnecessary lights and unplug and turn off chargers and electronics when they aren’t being used was also issued.
The peak alert is expected to last through Friday, but may be extended into next week, City of West Plains Public Relations Coordinator Cody Sanders said.
Daytime high temperatures are expected to drop to the lower 90s and overnight lows to the mid-60s Saturday and Sunday, according to the National Weather Service in Springfield. However, Monday and Tuesday’s daytime highs are forecast to be in the mid- to upper 90s again.
“We are asking members to take more measures regarding power usage at this time,” Howell-Oregon Electric Cooperative (HOEC) Manager of Member Services Myles Smith said. The utility provider issued a news release to members Wednesday morning.
“Due to unseasonably high temperatures, members of Howell-Oregon Electric Cooperative have been asked to safely conserve electricity as the three-tiered system of electric cooperatives continues to do everything possible to meet members’ energy needs,” begins the news release.
The statement goes on to say that Associated Electric Cooperative, power supplier for Howell-Oregon Electric Cooperative, notified member co-ops Tuesday that “energy supplies may be tight” Wednesday through today, and encouraged co-ops to conserve energy between 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., when peak energy use occurs.
In addition to Howell-Oregon, Associated Electric Cooperative provides power to six regional generation and transmission cooperatives and 51 distribution cooperatives.
Like West Plains utility customers, cooperative members have been asked to conserve energy by raising thermostats a few degrees, limiting the use of large appliances, unplugging devices not in use and turning off unnecessary lights.
HEAT SAFETY
High temperatures with high humidity can be a health threat to the elderly, the very young and anyone with chronic health conditions, in part because they may perspire less and body temperature may not be regulated properly, according to Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) Acting Director Paula Nickelson.
But, she adds, summer temperatures can negatively effect healthy young and middle-aged adults, too.
“Heat and humidity can place a lot of stress on the body,” said Nickelson. “Heat exhaustion can come on suddenly, with little warning, and lead to heatstroke which becomes a very dangerous situation.
During excessive heat, Nickelson urges Missourians to check on friends and neighbors, especially those who are elderly and chronically ill, who may be on fixed income and may not have air conditioning.
To report a senior citizen or an adult with disabilities who is in need of assistance due to the heat, call the state's toll-free abuse and neglect hotline at 800-392-0210, or make a report online at health.mo.gov/safety/abuse. The hotline operates 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week.
Medications can impair a body’s response to heat, making them more vulnerable to temperature-related conditions, Nickelson notes.
Those medications can include antihistamines, over-the-counter sleeping pills, antidepressants, heart drugs, antipsychotics, major tranquilizers and some medications for Parkinson's disease. People should check with their doctor or pharmacist to find out if their medications make them more sensitive to summer's high temperatures.
COOLING CENTERS
The West Plains Senior Center at 416 E. Main St. is open to all and may be used as a cooling center from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, Administrator Joy Pace reminded. Ice water, iced tea and coffee are served and sodas are available from vending machines.
Lunch is served from 11:15 to 12:30 p.m. at a cost of $6 for those younger than 60, and a suggested donation of $3.50 for those 60 and older. It includes a drink, meal and dessert. Daily menus may be viewed on the West Plains Senior Center Facebook page; scroll down to the June menu.
The West Plains Public Library is open from from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays, and a library card is not required to use the facilities as a cooling center. Bottled water is provided for free, and there is also a water fountain, Library Director Shawnee Kennedy said.
Reading materials such as newspapers and magazines are available, and computers may be accessed with a free guest pass to those without a card, she added.
Free books and books for sale may also be of interest to visitors.
