Local utilities urge customers to cut power usage to avoid outages

Local utilities AEP Ohio and Ohio Edison Christmas Eve asked customers to cut back on using electricity through 10 a.m. Christmas morning to reduce the chances of rolling blackouts this weekend.

AEP Ohio in a statement said conservation would "help ensure adequate power supplies."

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The utilities said regional power grid operator PJM Interconnection was requesting customers conserve electricity due to "extremely cold temperatures (that) have created extraordinary demands on the power system."

AEP Ohio said in a statement "we are asking businesses and the public to help by immediately reducing electricity use as much as possible without sacrificing safety."

Ohio Edison's parent company FirstEnergy said in a statement, "Demand for electricity is expected to increase through the day as the cold temperatures continue and families gather to celebrate the holiday. PJM will continue to monitor conditions and will take additional actions if necessary, which may include the potential for short, rotating customer outages. Taking action to conserve energy now can help offset the need for additional actions later."

AEP Ohio asked customers to lower thermostats as much as health allows, postpone using major electrical appliances like stoves, dishwashers and clothes dryers and turn off "non-essential electric lights, equipment and appliances" as "the combined actions of customers can reduce overall demand for electricity and ease the emergency situation."

FirstEnergy also advised customers to "close curtains and blinds to retain warm air inside homes."

The statement by AEP Ohio suggested that if customers do not voluntarily reduce electricity usage the grid operator might direct AEP Ohio to cut off electricity to parts of its service area. This would be done only "if necessary to avoid widespread power loss and to prevent long-term damage to the regional electric system. ... Customers should be prepared for the possibility of temporary electric service outages if further emergency action is required."

AEP Ohio urged residents to check on elderly neighbors and friends or neighbors and friends with disabilities who would be especially impacted by a power outage. The utility advised them to have a plan should the power go out.

The AEP Ohio outage map did not indicate any power outages in Stark County Saturday evening.

The Ohio Edison outage map said 20 or fewer customers in Tuscarawas Township near on State Route 241 just north of Sarbaugh Street NW had lost power due to equipment failure. A crew had arrived on site and expected to restore power to most customers that had lost it by 11 p.m. Saturday.

Also, 20 or fewer customers on Cleveland Avenue NW just south of Brumbaugh Street NW in Lake Township have lost power. Ohio Edison had yet to dispatch a crew. The cause is pending investigation. The utility hopes to restore power to most affected customers by 11 p.m.

The statement by AEP Ohio said PJM Interconnection operates the electrical grid for 65 million people in 13 states and the District of Columbia.

Reach Robert at robert.wang@cantonrep.com. Twitter: @rwangREP.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: AEP Ohio, FIrstEnergy ask customers to reduce usage of electricity