Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) is asking all electric power consumers including Hartselle Utilities and its customers to voluntarily reduce their use of electricity effective today at 5 p.m. until further notice.

The cold weather is expected to push TVA’s power system to its limits and measures need to be taken to ensure the system remains robust and reliable for our customers and all power users across TVA’s seven-state service territory.

Some suggestions for conserving electricity include:

1. Turning all unnecessary lighting and appliances off.

2  Avoid operating clothes washers, dryers, & dishwashers during this time.

3. Turning down thermostats in homes and businesses two to three degrees below normal.

4. Taking shorter showers.

5. Turning off heat in all rooms that you can.

6. Dressing warmer & in layers.

These steps are necessary to keep our power system stable and in operation. Additional tips for saving on your power bill and reducing electric demand can be found on TVA’s EnergyRight Solutions website.

The request extends to all electric power consumers – residential, commercial and industrial customers. The voluntary reduction will help ensure a continued supply of power and avoid interruptions of service.