ALBERT LEA, Minn. – While a savage blizzard ravaged southern Minnesota and northern Iowa, power providers urged customers to conserve energy. A peak energy alert was issued at 5 p.m. – just ahead of a peak of stress on the regional electrical grid. Issuing the alert:
> People’s Energy Cooperative, Oronoco, 20,000 addresses.
> MiEnergy Cooperative, Rushford, 19,000.
> Freeborn-Mower Electric Cooperative, Albert Lea, 18,000.
> Heartland Power Cooperative, St. Ansgar, 5,200.
Co-op members with grain dryers, voluntary manual standby generators, and dairy water heaters were told to expect power shut-offs until 8 p.m. “Each seemingly small action can collectively make a big difference,” the co-ops said in a joint statement. Recommended for households:”
> Set heating systems to down to 68 degrees.
> Run dishwashers and do laundry later in the evening.
> Use microwaves, not ovens, to cook.
> Charge electric vehicles later in the evening.
> Keep televisions and gaming systems off.