Ameren Illinois natural gas strategy keeps the power on
Tim Eggers, director of natural gas storage for Ameren Illinois, conducts a tour of the company’s Freeburg Storage Field with members of the media.
The current cold snap has furnaces working overtime, and Ameren Illinois wants you to know they are ready to keep the natural gas service flowing. The utility owns and operates 12 underground storage fields, and that helped keep the power on last weekend.
There had been some messages shared on social media relaying word from MISO, the Midcontinent Independent System Operator, that there may be periodic power outages to keep the grid up and running. Brad Kloeppel, senior director of natural gas operations and technical services for Ameren Illinois tells The Big Z that due to this underground storage program, that did not come into play.
With more cold on the way this weekend, here are some tips to get the most out of your furnace: adjust your thermostat; save up to 12% on your heating costs by programming a smart thermostat; replace your HVAC filter; replacing your furnace filter every 3 months can save you up to 15% and will help your furnace run efficiently; and seal your home from drafts with weatherstripping, caulking, or even plastic if that’s what you have to work with.