Indiana electric companies warn of blackouts, ask customers to reduce energy consumption

Electric companies across South Central Indiana are asking their customers to watch their energy consumption as air temperatures are expected to reach nearly 100 degrees several days this week — with heat indices expected to reach nearly 110 degrees.

According to a Facebook post by Martinsville-based South Central Indiana REMC, there is a "possibility of rolling blackouts" in its service area.

SCI REMC isn't the only local electric company warning customers of potential blackouts.

Related: Excessive heat in Morgan County in coming days. Here's some tips to stay safe.

Across the region — Johnson County REMC, Utilities District of Western Indiana REMC, Daviess-Martin County REMC, Orange County REMC and Jackson County REMC have all posted similar statements on their social media platforms.

The cooperatives all point to the Midcontinental Independent System Operator (MISO), which controls the electric grid across middle portions of the United States.

SCI REMC noted that MISO recently "issued a Capacity Alert warning that it may have a shortage of available energy capacity during peak usage times this week."

"Rolling blackouts are designed to reduce the strain on the electric grid by temporarily shutting down power across parts of a utility’s service area," SCI REMC said in its Facebook post. "SCI REMC engineers are working on plans along with Hoosier Energy, our energy supplier, to manage the situation if we are ordered by MISO to reduce the electric load on the grid."

A rolling blackout could last anywhere from 15 to 60 minutes.

Others are reading: Extreme heat arrives in Lawrence County this week, triple digit heat indexes expected.

Because of the strain on the power grid, electric companies are asking customers to reduce their usage during peak hours from 2 to 8 p.m. each day this week.

Jackson County REMC suggests "setting your air conditioner thermostats up a couple of degrees and putting off running dishwashers, clothes dryers, pool pumps and other non-essential electric devices during this period."

Contact Reporter-Times editor Lance Gideon at lgideon@reporter-times.com or 765-342-1543. Follow him on Twitter: @LanceOGideon.

This article originally appeared on The Reporter Times: SCI REMC, other Indiana companies warn of power outages with excessive heat warning