Mid-Missouri utility providers ask customers to limit usage

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Local utility providers in Mid-Missouri want customers to limit their usage.

Three Rivers Electric Cooperatives tells these cold temperatures have put a strain on the electrical grid.

The utility provider has more than 17,000 customers across seven counties.

CEO Roger Kloeppel says customers who limit their use can help avoid problems like blackouts.

CEO at Three Rivers Electric Cooperatives Roger Kloeppell says, "In order to keep us from getting to that point, we're asking our members and really everyone in Missouri just to cut back on their usage so that we can make sure we've got enough generation to keep everything on during this cold weather.">

The Boone Electric Cooperative has also made a similar request to its customers.

Some utility providers around the Kansas City area and Springfield, Missouri started blackouts earlier today.

Those were expected between 30 minutes to an hour.

Columbia Water & Light reports the rolling blackouts that recently have been announced for Springfield and Kansas City, Missouri, do not impact Columbia's power supply. We do not anticipate any power supply issues at this time.

Callaway Electric is issuing an energy conservation alert.