Electric Co-Ops Ask Customers to Conserve Energy During Heat Wave.

ELK RIVER, Minn. -- As Minnesotans swelter through the second extended heat wave of July, Great River Energy and its member cooperatives are prepared to meet the additional demand for power. However, to reduce the strain on the power grid, the cooperatives have issued a peak alert for today, asking their customers to conserve energy.

The cooperatives request that customers voluntarily cut back energy usage between 12 p.m. (noon) and 10 p.m. for today, Monday, July 31.

Energy saving suggestions include:

--Choose meals that don't contribute additional heat to the home

--Delay running the dishwasher

--Set the air conditioner to 78 degrees or higher

--Delay washing clothes until after 10 p.m.

--Turn off excess lights and close curtains and draperies

Great River Energy has the capacity to meet additional demand. However, high demand can lead to costly energy purchases. Conservation efforts can help to curb those costs.

Great River Energy (www.greatriverenergy.com) is a not-for-profit generation and transmission cooperative providing wholesale electric energy and related services to 28 distribution cooperatives in Minnesota and Wisconsin, serving more than 600,000 members, or approximately 1.7 million people. Member cooperatives include:

--Agralite Electric Cooperative, Benson

--Arrowhead Electric Cooperative, Inc., Lutsen

--BENCO Electric Cooperative, Mankato

--Brown County Rural Electrical Association, Sleepy Eye

--Connexus Energy, Ramsey

--Cooperative Light & Power, Two Harbors 

--Crow Wing Power, Brainerd

--Dakota Electric Association, Farmington

--East Central Energy, Braham

--Federated Rural Electric Association, Jackson 

--Goodhue County Cooperative Electric Association, Zumbrota

--Itasca-Mantrap Cooperative Electrical Association, Park Rapids

--Kandiyohi Power Cooperative, Willmar

--Lake Country Power, Grand Rapids 

--Lake Region Electric Cooperative, Pelican Rapids

--McLeod Cooperative Power Association, Glencoe

--Meeker Cooperative, Litchfield

--Mille Lacs Energy Cooperative, Aitkin

--Minnesota Valley Electric Cooperative, Jordan

--Nobles Cooperative Electric, Worthington

--North Itasca Electrical Cooperative Inc., Bigfork

--Redwood Electric Cooperative, Clements

--Runestone Electric Association, Alexandria

--South Central Electric Association, St. James

--Stearns Electric Association, Melrose

--Steele-Waseca Cooperative Electric, Owatonna

--Todd-Wadena Electric Cooperative, Wadena

--Wright-Hennepin Cooperative Electric Association, Rockford

Great River Energy (www.GreatRiverEnergy.com) is a not-for-profit generation and transmission cooperative providing electricity to 28 distribution cooperatives in Minnesota and Wisconsin. It is the second largest power supplier in the state of Minnesota, and the fourth largest cooperative of its type in the nation.