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