Extreme temperatures may cause a short-term controlled electrical outage, according to the city of Pierre.
Southwest Power Pool manages the electric and wholesale power for the entire center of the U.S. between Canada and northern Texas. They will issue an energy alert or an energy emergency if that happens.
Alerts mean people should reduce energy use. An emergency means a controlled outage is in progress.
Pierre says a controlled outage there would not last for more than two hours.
"Energy is generated on demand; it is created at the immediate time of use,” Brad Palmer, the city utilities director for Pierre, said in a press release. “That means our power providers can’t predict when, exactly, or if there will be an energy shortage that leads to a call for short-term power outages.”
During the summer heat, Palmer said the best thing for consumers to do is conserve energy.
No alert has been issued at this time.
