Governor Edwards asked all residents to temporarily conserve power during peak consumption periods to help prevent further rolling blackouts. Those periods are from 7 to 10 PM tonight, 7 to 9 AM Friday morning, 7 to 10 PM Friday night, and 7 to 9 once again Saturday morning.
“If you are able, set your theromstat lower and put on a sweater. Don’t do your dishes or your clothes, that sort of thing,” said Edwards who adds this request does not apply to the elderly or those living with medical conditions that could be impacted by keeping the heat turned down.
Rolling blackouts have plauged the state since the winter event began and Edwards said local power providers needed to do a better job giving customers forewarning.
“I want electric companies to provide as much communication in advance of these events as possible,” said Edwards.
Public Service Commision Chairman Craig Greene said the PSC will investigate the lack of communication from providers.
Edwards said ultimately the decision to initiate rolling blackouts was made at a level above Entergy, Cleco, or SWEPCO as energy demand far exceeded supply grid-wide.
“Had we had catastrophic failure then everybody loses lights for a very long time, and we had these follow on systems comming at us, so what they did they didn’t have a choice, they had to do it, and it was the right thing to do,” said Edwards.
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