Wednesday, April 18, 2012
About half of Ames Electric customers lost power Tuesday afternoon.
Half of City of Ames electric customers lost power Tuesday afternoon due to a construction accident, a release from the City of Ames said. The power cut out about 4 p.m. but power was rerouted leaving customers in the dark for only about 20 minutes. Another utility working near the Des Moines tie-in line between Ames and Ankeny disrupted power, the release said. Ames Electric Services was using power from the tie-in line while the city was conducting maintenance at the Ames Power Plant. After the power outage was reported Ames re-routed power through the Boone tie-in line. The other tie-in line was expected to go through repairs and resume power supply late Tuesday, a transition that customers wouldn't notice. Anyone needed to report a…
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
City of Ames sends out peak alert warning for the second consecutive day.
- GOVERNMENT
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Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Ames Electric Services is in danger of reaching another record energy peak today due to high temperatures and humidity, according to the City of Ames. Predicted energy use at the municipally-owned utility could create record demand through 8 p.m., a release from the city said. Electric consumption on Monday reached 128.55 Megawatts or 128,550 kilowatts. Peak demand is a measure of the most energy consumed by customers at the same time. Yesterday's peak consumption came close to the previous record set on July 19, at 128.6 megawatts. Whenever a new peak demand of electricity is reached, it increases the amount of electrical capacity the plant needs. City of Ames Electric Services is required to furnish 106 percent of its historic peak …
Monday, August 1, 2011
Ames issues a power alert for Aug. 1. until 8 p.m.
- GOVERNMENT
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Monday, August 1, 2011
Continued high temperatures and humidity are creating a very high demand for electricity, according to the City of Ames. Ames Electric Services, a municipally owned utility, has issued an electric use “peak alert” for the rest of the day. Residents are asked to reduce electricity usage by turning off any unnecessary electrical devices, closing drapes to block out the heating rays of the sun and waiting to wash dishes and clothes until the later evening. People may also turn thermostats up 3 to 5 degrees and use fans, close air registers and doors in rooms not being used, and avoid use of the oven during the afternoon and early evening.
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
City hopes to save power and postpone a power plant expansion.
Steve Wilson, City of Ames energy services coordinator, better known as The Energy Guy, worked with his office lights out July 20. Ames' demand for power peaks in the warm summer months and July 18 and July 19 brought record temperatures and a record demand for power across the city. The city's peak energy demand broke records for two consecutive days despite warnings from the municipally owned utility urging residents to conserve. Ames Electric Services hit a peak demand of 128,200 kilowatts on July 18 and 128,600 kilowatts on July 19. If Ames hit an energy peak for the third day in a row it wouldn't be Wilson's fault. Not only did he work in darkened office, the city sent out an alert for a third day urging residents to conserve energy, …
