After Bracing for Winter Storms, Arkansans Now Brace for Upcoming Utility Bills

By ZUZANNA SITEK

After back to back winter storms two weeks ago dropped temperatures to as much as negative 20 degrees along with several inches of snow, Arkansans are now bracing for their upcoming utility bills. Energy company representatives told lawmakers in a hearing this week that high demand and short supply dramatically drove up the price of natural gas and all modes of energy production performed less than optimally during several days of brutal weather.

https://www.kuaf.com/post/after-bracing-winter-storms-arkansans-now-brace-upcoming-utility-bills

Ozarks Electric Cooperative crews clean off panels at a Fayetteville solar facility, which is used to power the city's wastewater treatment plants.

COURTESY / OZARKS ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE

Arkansas Utilities Call For People To Conserve Energy Or Face Planned Outages

By ALEXANDRIA BROWN & MICHAEL HIBBLEN

Arkansas utility companies are asking people to conserve electricity usage as the state braces for another round of winter weather. Companies say heavy snowfall and unusually cold temperatures have prompted many consumers to use a substantial amount of natural gas and electricity to stay warm in their homes.

Melody Daniel, a spokeswoman for the Arkansas Division of Emergency Management, says lowering thermostats to within the 60 to 65 degree temperature range will help conserve power.

"Heating sources are the biggest draw during these extended cold weather events," Daniel said. "So, if you’re able to reduce that by about five degrees or so, and then bundle up, wear a few extra layers and maybe have a blanket with you, that is just one simple step that most Arkansans can take that will drastically reduce the load on the power grid and help our electricity stay on."

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/post/arkansas-utilities-call-people-conserve-energy-or-face-planned-outages

Entergy Arkansas worker Jason Penny addresses a problem on a power line Sunday in west Little Rock.

CREDIT ENTERGY ARKANSAS