An increase in energy use by Pacific Northwest customers experiencing unusually cold temperatures, combined with a power outage at a massive natural gas storage facility Saturday afternoon, prompted Puget Sound Energy to ask customers to conserve power overnight. Saturday.
The company provides electricity to about 1.2 million customers in the region and natural gas to more than 900,000.
“We ask subscribers to rationalize their use of natural gas and electricity during the evening hours.” PSE said Just after 6pm on social media platform
The company, which sent emails to customers in addition to posting on X, asked customers to turn down the temperature and limit their use of hot water, such as in dishwashers and washing machines.
In X, PSE did not report a power outage at the Jackson Prairie underground natural gas storage facility in Lewis County, which the company owns.
PSE spokeswoman Christina Donegan said at 7 p.m.: The outage occurred around 2 p.m. and contributed to the company’s increased concerns about the network. At 7:30 p.m., Donegan said service at the facility was back online.
Donegan did not provide information about why the outage occurred.
The facility is the nation’s 14th-largest gas storage reserve, capable of holding about 44 billion cubic feet of natural gas, and is designed to meet up to 25% of peak winter demand in the Pacific Northwest, according to PSE’s website.