After days of extreme strain placed on energy grids across the Midwest, Platte-Clay Electric Cooperative is thanking its members for their voluntary energy conservation. A reduction in energy usage and a strong electric cooperative system have enabled PCEC to avoid implementing any forced outages amid sustained extreme temperatures.

The events of the past week have been a testament to the strength of the cooperative business model and the resilience of our members - Dave Deihl, CEO and General Manager of Platte-Clay Electric Cooperative

“We appreciate the efforts of our consumer-members to temporarily reduce the amount of energy used by their homes and businesses during a difficult period of time for the entire energy sector,” said Dave Deihl, CEO and General Manager of Platte-Clay Electric Cooperative. “The events of the past week have been a testament to the strength of the cooperative business model and the resilience of our members.”

Platte-Clay is part of an independent system of generation and transmission cooperatives, led by Associated Electric Cooperative, Inc. (Springfield, MO), and is not under the regulatory jurisdiction of the Southwest Power Pool (SPP). A diverse and resilient mix of power generation sources controlled by Associated Electric has ensured sufficient energy supply to the grid throughout this extreme weather event.

At this time, PCEC does not anticipate any temporary forced outages for its members, but the cooperative is encouraging members to maintain lowered usage tonight and into tomorrow. Members can find the latest updates on the co-op’s response here.

KPGZ News – Brian Watts Contributed to this Story