HEA announces fall-winter energy alert system

• Co-op encourages customers to be conservative

By Naomi Klouda
Homer Tribune
Homer Electric Association is asking customers to keep an eye out for energy alerts, a new color-coded system implemented to help deal with potential natural gas shortfall this winter.
The three-colored alert gives instructions or directions to consumers. If a gas delivery problem develops, emergency managers might issue an alert using an energy watch chart. The information will be disseminated on radio, in newspapers and on HEA’s Web site at homerelectric.com.
According to the warning system, the color green indicates that energy supplies are stable. This code cautions residents to use energy wisely and to be conservation-minded, which is essentially the status of HEA customers now, said spokesperson Melissa Carlin.
Yellow means “caution.” In that alert category, utilities across the Railbelt, including HEA, want consumers to set their thermostat to 65 in living areas and 40 degrees in the garage. Users should lower water-heater settings to warm or “vacation,” minimize use of natural gas stoves, postpone laundry and dishes and turn off unnecessary electronics.
Red urges customers to push the thermostat even lower; 60 degrees, and avoid using natural gas fireplaces, decorative heaters or gas grills. Consolidate household activities into as few rooms as possible, and use the smaller energy output of the microwave for preparing meals.
HEA’s Director Bradley P. Janorschke has said, in addition to the possibility of weather-related outages, there is a concern about power interruptions due to a natural gas shortfall. The natural gas supply in Cook Inlet has been on a downward trend, “and while a shortfall is not likely, it is a situation that we need to be prepared for,” Janorschke wrote in a public address.
Homer Electric currently has a power supply contract with Chugach Electric Association that calls for CEA to supply Homer Electric’s power needs through 2013. More than 90 percent of the power generated by Chugach Electric is fueled by natural gas.
To head off potential problems, Homer Electric has joined with CEA, Matanuska Electric Association, Municipal Light and Power in Anchorage and ENSTAR to make sure that, in the event of a temporary gas shortfall, a plan is in place to deal with the situation. If circumstances warrant it, utilities may ask customers and members to take voluntary steps to reduce the demand on gas and electric systems.
“In this case, it would make even more sense to reduce consumption,” Janorschke said. “Simple measures such as lowering the thermostat, turning down the setting on the water heater, turning off gas fireplaces, postponing doing laundry and turning off all unnecessary lights and appliances would have a positive impact.”
As a last resort, HEA may have to interrupt or turn off the power in pre-determined areas for about 20 minutes. The outages would be “rolling outages,” so that the interruptions are shared equally by all customers in the Railbelt.
“We do not anticipate that intentional outages will be necessary, but it is important to be ready in case those kinds of measures are needed,” Janorschke said.
In the meantime, a rate reduction on HEA’s charge per kilowatt went into the billing system on Oct. 1 that should reduce HEA bills this winter. The new rate will mean a monthly savings of $14.05 for the average member using 630 kilowatt hours per month.