SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO.com) –The authority that regulates the electric grid in the Midwest is asking people to conserve energy as extreme cold continues throughout the region.
The Southwest Power Pool runs the grid for a 14-state area, including nearly all of South Dakota. They’re asking utility providers and their customers to cut down on energy usage for the next two days “to mitigate the risk of more widespread and longer-lasting outages.”
The organization sent out an alert indicating “SPP foresees or is experiencing conditions where all available resources are scheduled to meet firm load obligations and that we may be unable to sustain its required contingency reserves.”
Monday is the lowest February 15 on record in Sioux Falls; at one point the temperature was as low as -26 degrees. That broke a record set back in 1909.
#Breaking: New low temperature records set in Sioux Falls and Sioux City!
-26 degrees in Sioux Falls broke the previous record of -21 set in 1909
-28 degrees in Sioux City broke the previous record of -20 set in 1936 pic.twitter.com/3yeZiAcrK8
— NWS Sioux Falls (@NWSSiouxFalls) February 15, 2021
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