Columbiana urges power conservation amid heat wave

The City of Columbiana is asking residents to voluntarily reduce their energy consumption this week as temperatures are expected to reach into the 90s. The request is specifically for the peak period of 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., from Monday, June 23, through Thursday, June 26.

City Manager Lance Willard emphasized that residents' conservation efforts directly impact the city's ability to keep electricity rates low.

Residents can contribute by:

Turning off unnecessary lights.

Unplugging small appliances and chargers, especially those with indicator lights.

Raising the air conditioner thermostats by a degree or two.

Closing curtains, drapes, and blinds to block out the sun.

Scheduling laundry and other household chores outside of the 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. window.

Turning off televisions, computers, and other electronic devices when not in use.

Willard assured residents that the city's power supply is sufficient. "There's plenty of power available and our grid is in good shape," he said. "But if we can conserve during these peak hours, the city can save on transmission and capacity costs next year."

The call for conservation came several days before a power outage on Sunday evening that affected approximately 300 residents in the northern part of Columbiana. City officials attributed that outage to a "catastrophic failure" of equipment at a substation due to high temperatures. Power was restored within a few hours of the incident.