Energy Watch conservation test this Wed. Oct

ANCHORAGE-HOMER-MAT-SU— As part of an effort to prepare for a possible natural gas shortage this winter, Southcentral Alaska residents are being asked to voluntarily reduce their energy consumption for two hours on the evening of Wed., Oct. 20.

The test is being coordinated by the Municipality of Anchorage, with cooperation from the
Kenai and MAT-SU boroughs and local utilities. The entities have worked together this fall on Energy Watch, a campaign designed to call attention to the possibility of a natural gas delivery problem.

Residents of the MAT-SU Borough, the Municipality of Anchorage and the Kenai Peninsula Borough are being asked to participate in the voluntary test.

>Between the hours of 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Oct. 20, residents are being asked to reduce their energy consumption. The steps include lowering the thermostat to 65 degrees; shutting off unnecessary lights and electronics; setting the water heater to “warm” or “vacation”; postponing washing dishes and doing laundry; and reducing natural gas range use (i.e. the actions listed in the yellow section of the Energy Watch chart).

The goal of the conservation test is to see what kind of effect voluntary actions might have on overall energy consumption. In the event of a real energy deliverability problem, one of the first steps will be to ask residents to take voluntary steps similar to ones being proposed for the October 20 trial run.

The utilities and agencies involved in the Energy Watch campaign have stressed that a natural gas delivery problem this winter is not likely. However, in case it does happen, it is prudent to have a plan in place.

Contact: Anchorage: Sarah Erkmann, 343-7103
MAT-SU: Patty Sullivan, 355-0103
Homer: Joe Gallagher, 283-2324