Golden Valley Electric put out a Level 2 Energy Emergency Alert on October 12. In plain terms, GVEA says it is running every generator it has to keep up with demand, and its spare cushion is under 15 megawatts. The co-op says it doesn't expect things to get better for about 48 hours, so it is asking members to cut back on power now and get ready in case controlled outages are needed.
This is the new alert system GVEA filed with the Regulatory Commission of Alaska this fall. Level 1 means please conserve. Level 2, where we are now, means conserve and prepare. Level 3 means rotating outages, usually 30 to 60 minutes at a time, with texts before your power goes dark and again when it comes back.
See GVEA's current alert and the full list of what they're asking. For background on how the system came about, the News-Miner wrote it up here.
Our take: it's only mid October and we're already at Level 2, which is a little early for comfort. The good news is that a lot of small changes across town really do add up, and most of them cost nothing.
A few easy ones that fit what GVEA is asking:
- Put your block heater on a timer. Two to four hours before you leave is plenty for most rigs, and it beats leaving it plugged in all night.
- Hold off on the dryer and dishwasher for now, and skip the electric oven when you have another option.
- Turn down the thermostat a couple degrees if the house can stay safely warm, and use the woodstove if you have one and it's in good shape.
- Go easy on space heaters. GVEA asks folks to skip them unless needed for safety, and if you do run one, plug it straight into the wall, not a power strip, and keep it clear of anything that can burn.
- Charge your phone and find the flashlights now.
- If you have a generator, never run it inside or in the garage.
If the cold weather turns up a furnace issue, a drafty door that needs fixing, or a driveway that needs plowing, Good Hand Co. can line you up with a local crew for snow removal and other winter jobs.
Photo: Yuhan Du / Unsplash, near Fairbanks