Rural electric co-op members asked to conserve electricity

Members of Associated Electric Cooperative’s six owner generation and transmission (G&T) cooperatives are being asked to reduce electricity consumption due to extreme cold weather that is taxing utilities throughout the Midwest.

Associated Electric has declared an Energy Emergency Alert (EEA) Level 2 and is making a public conservation appeal to mitigate the risk of worsening conditions.

Associated’s six G&Ts are Central Electric Power Cooperative, Jefferson City, Missouri; KAMO Power, Vinita, Oklahoma;  M&A Electric Power Cooperative, Poplar Bluff, Missouri; Northeast Electric Power Cooperative, Palmyra, Missouri; NW Electric Power Cooperative, Cameron, Missouri; and Sho-Me Power Electric Cooperative, Marshfield, Missouri. These six G&Ts send power to 51 local distribution cooperatives in Missouri, southeast Iowa and northeast Oklahoma.

Extreme cold throughout the Associated system resulted in new all-time peak hour demand records during the weekend.

Associated reliably met these peak demands and is closely monitoring operating conditions, which may continue to tighten over the next several days because of the widespread and extreme cold winter weather event. Electric cooperative members should follow their local cooperative’s instructions regarding energy conservation.