URGENT ALERT: Local Leaders Report "Critical" Need to Reduce Natural Gas Use

FROM LOCAL SOURCES


JUST IN:  As a result of continued poor travel conditions due to the winter storm and doing our part to conserve natural gas during the announced natural gas shortage, all GJCS schools will continue with eLearning through the remainder of this week.

DUBOIS COUNTY -- Officials in Jasper and Huntingburg are asking residents to reduce natural gas use, after being informed about a critical gas shortage.

Officials say, extreme cold and near blizzard conditions in gas-producing states, had an instant impact on our natural gas production and supply.  To help ease demand, gas customers are asked to reduce gas consumption lowering your thermostat to 68 degrees and cut back on the use of large, natural gas-consuming equipment "without affecting the public health and safety."

Gas company officials say natural gas processing plants are losing power which in turn reduces the amount of natural gas available to pipelines serving the ENTIRE MIDWEST. The natural gas system across the Midwest will continue to see supply cuts impacting some or potentially all of us.  It is impossible at this point to determine where the future gas production losses will occur.    Please continue to do everything you can to limit usage.

"The natural gas grid is deteriorating as we speak and it’s NOT getting better any time soon.  This is impacting the entire Midwest and with blizzard like conditions in multiple states we will continue to see power loss and production loss. Please do EVERYTHING you can to reduce natural gas consumption immediately. We just have to make it through the next few days.  This is an unprecedented event NEVER seen before in the natural gas business."

Jasper officials say they plan to issue regular updates on the situation daily.