Amid sub-zero temperatures, more than one million V Energy customers in Wisconsin are being asked to conserve natural gas due to a pipeline fault
V Energies asked its customers to immediately lower their thermostats to 62 degrees or lower Friday evening to prevent widespread service outages.
Guardian Pipelines notified customers on Friday that unplanned maintenance at a compressor station in Illinois had disrupted the northbound flow of gas on one of its interstate pipelines.
V Energy spokesman Brendan Conway told the Guardian the utility’s gas supply had been cut by 30%.
Conway said the utility is drawing liquefied gas and propane from storage facilities and has cut gas deliveries to business customers whose contracts allow service interruptions. But due to extreme cold in most parts of the country, the utility is unable to get gas from other pipeline suppliers.
A spokeswoman for the pipeline company said one of the two malfunctioning valves had been restored as of Friday night and crews were working on the other to restore capacity in a “timely manner.”
V Energies said it would reevaluate the situation and update customers on Saturday. No update was given till 6 am on Saturday.
In addition to turning down thermostats, the company asked residents to avoid using secondary gas heaters, ovens, stoves and clothes dryers.
The National Weather Service was forecasting temperatures down to minus 14 across Wisconsin on Friday night and mostly in the single digits, with much of the state under a wind chill advisory.
cold prevention tips
With temperatures dipping below freezing and wind chills well below that, emergency officials are urging residents to stay safe. The combination of drifting snow and low temperatures is also making the journey particularly treacherous. Here are some tips to survive the storm.
• If possible, stay indoors. Limit outdoor time for pets.
• If you have to go out, wear lots of loose-fitting clothes. Wear a hat, mittens and snow boots. Use a handkerchief to cover your mouth and face.
• Know the signs and symptoms of hypothermia, including shivering, tiredness, confusion and slurred speech.
• Know the signs and symptoms of frostbite, which include redness or pain on any part of the skin.
• Check out friends, family and neighbors. The people most affected by the cold are older adults, children, people who spend a lot of time outdoors, such as the homeless and hunters, and people who drink or use drugs.
• Prepare an emergency kit for your home and vehicle that includes blankets, snacks and water, medicine and other essentials. Keep your gas tank at least half full. For tips on how to prepare an emergency kit, visit readywisconsin.wi.gov/make-a-kit.
• Check to make sure ice isn’t blocking outdoor furnace and hot water heater vents, which can build up dangerous levels of carbon monoxide in the home.
If your power goes out:
• Block off unused spaces and limit the number of times exterior doors are opened.
• Open cabinets to prevent freezing of pipes; In case of prolonged shutdown, leave the tap partially open to keep the water running.
• Never use a stove, oven, grill or unvented heater to keep warm, and do not run a portable generator in enclosed spaces because these devices release carbon monoxide, an odorless gas that can be fatal.
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