Working Together to Lower Demand
When outdoor temperatures drop, electricity use naturally rises. Colder weather drives us indoors, where we rely more heavily on home heating systems, more lighting, and household appliances. Heating systems run longer and more frequently to maintain comfortable indoor temperatures. Combine that with the fact that most people use electricity at the same times—typically in the mornings and early evenings—and the result is significant pressure on our electric grid.
Rio Grande Electric Cooperative (RGEC) works closely with our local transmission providers to plan for these seasonal weather patterns and changes and ensure you have reliable power every day of the year. This partnership involves detailed resource and infrastructure planning to make certain electricity is available whenever you need it. However, it’s important to remember that our local system is part of a much larger regional and national electric grid.
During the winter months, when homes and businesses across the country are using more electricity simultaneously, overall demand can approach—or occasionally exceed—available supply. This is especially true during severe weather events, such as ice storms, sudden temperature drops, or equipment malfunctions that reduce generation capacity. In rare cases when demand threatens to outpace supply, the regional grid operator may call for temporary, controlled outages—often referred to as rolling blackouts—to prevent broader system failures. If such a situation arises, RGEC will provide timely updates to members. Be sure to follow the Co-op's social media pages to stay up-to-date with the most current updates and information.
To prepare for these scenarios and minimize risks, Rio Grande Electric and our partners take proactive measures to strengthen reliability year-round. These include routine system maintenance, investments in grid modernization, and comprehensive disaster response planning. These proactive steps are designed to ensure our portion of the grid remains resilient even under extreme conditions. Yet, maintaining a reliable electric system requires a collective effort—and every member plays an important role in lowering demand when the grid is under stress.
You can help by taking simple actions during periods of high electricity use, especially on the coldest days of winter.