STANARDSVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – Rappahannock Electric Cooperative reports record demand in single-digit temperatures Thursday morning put about 2800 southern Greene and northern Albemarle customers without power just in time for the morning drive. REC’s Casey Hollins says they’ve been for the past week monitoring the weather and preparing for the impact of what the extreme cold temperatures would be on demand. The combination of the extreme cold and all-time high peak demand taxed some systems to capacity causing some areas to experience power outages. In addition, the extreme cold damaged some equipment which they’re repaired. As of 10am, there were still customers without power which should be restored by early afternoon.

Hollins says reducing demand on the power grid is helpful, with the first ask being during peak demand times, which is early morning as people prepare to go to work and school and, in the evening when people come home, setting the thermostat to 68 or lower. That’s also a good temperature before going to bed at night as you wrap up in blankets and coverings. Space heaters also have a big pull from the grid, so only use it when you’re in that space, limit the amount of time it runs, and turn it off when your no longer in that space.
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