Power suppliers say they can meet demand spike

Local electricity suppliers say they can meet the spike in demand that will coincide with the current heat wave. But those who have problems paying their utility bills may have few avenues remaining for assistance, local service agencies say.

Forecasts from the National Weather Service say highs are expected to stay in the mid- to upper 90s through the coming week, conditions that cause large spikes in electricity demands.

"We shouldn't have any real problems as far as continuous flow into the city," said Don Schuette, director of Jackson's city-administered electric utilities.

The rising demand shouldn't lead to outages, according to electric suppliers. Ameren spokesman Tim Fox said his company should be able to generate all the power its Missouri and Illinois customers need from its power plants, but if it can't, energy can be purchased. Ongoing maintenance programs for the power delivery system -- the lines that bring electricity to homes and businesses -- should eliminate potential for problems in the distribution of power, Fox said.

The SEMO Electric Cooperative, which supplies power to rural areas of Cape Girardeau, Scott, Stoddard, Bollinger, New Madrid and Mississippi counties, should also have enough power to meet demand, said customer service manager Jerry Dockins. If demand is high enough, then "peaking plants" near Idalia in Stoddard County and Campbell in Dunklin County will operate to provide extra power, Dockins said.

The news is good for customers who are able to afford to run air conditioners, but for those without air conditioning or who struggle to pay utility bills assistance is scarce right now. Rate increases -- from AmerenUE's 3.2 percent increase for its residential customers in Missouri earlier this year to Jackson's nearly 40 percent rate increase that took full effect earlier this year to increases in Illinois following the repeal of a rate increase freeze -- have exacerbated the situation.

Keri McCrorey, community services program coordinator for the East Missouri Action Agency, said those higher rates have contributed to the depletion of the not-for-profit agencies' funds to help people who need relief from high utility bills.

This year the EMAA, which provides energy assistance for people in Bollinger, Cape Girardeau, Iron, Madison, Perry, St. Francois, Ste. Genevieve and Washington counties who meet income qualifications, received $249,000 in federal funds administered by the state to assist the needy with paying electric bills and buying air conditioners.

Usually those funds last into early August, McCrorey said. This year the money was gone by mid-July.

The Salvation Army in Cape Girardeau has also seen a spike in requests for assistance, said Maj. Ben Stillwell. The Salvation Army opens its doors during hot weather for people who need a break from the heat. Stillwell said hundreds are using those services.

Tina Rogers, a Salvation Army caseworker, said demand has also increased for fans and air conditioners, but none is currently available and people are being put on a waiting list. And, like the EMAA, the local Salvation Army has run out of funds for utility assistance.

"A lot of people are really struggling," Rogers said.

msanders@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 182