Kansas Governor Laura Kelly has declared a State of Disaster Emergency due to wind chill warnings across the state, which have been causing stress on utility and natural gas companies.
The declaration authorizes the use of state resources and personnel to assist with response and recovery efforts in affected counties.
Because of the sub-zero temperatures , increased energy and natural gas demand is putting a strain on the system. . Utilities are currently experiencing wholesale natural gas prices from 10 to 100 times higher than normal.
Those costs will effect consumers, and increase monthly gas and electric bills.
Customers can keep these costs down by reducing their natural gas and electric usage:
- Wear additional layers of clothing and consider turning down your thermostat.
- Seal leaks around doors and windows. Apply weather stripping or caulk to seal gaps or crack around window and doors to stop or prevent air leaks. You can also cover your windows with towels, sheets, or plastic.
- Lower the temperature on your water heater. Set the temp on your water heater to 120 degrees Fahrenheit or turn it to the “Warm” setting.
- Close blinds or curtains.
- Change or clean filters. A clean filter on your furnace can lower your energy consumption by 5 to 15%.
- Delay doing chores such as laundry or washing dishes.
- Install foam gaskets on electrical switches and outlets. These can account for up to 10% of your home’s energy loss.
