LINCOLN, Neb. (Jan. 22, 2026) — With extreme cold moving into the region, Lincoln Electric System is encouraging customers to take simple steps to save energy, stay comfortable and help reduce strain on the grid.
“Extreme temperatures increase energy use for everyone, even when homes and businesses are operating normally,” said Marc Shkolnick, manager of Energy Services. “By making a few small adjustments, customers can lower their energy bills and support our community's power system.”
LES encourages customers to consider the following tips during times of extreme cold:
- Lower your thermostat a few degrees. Setting your thermostat to 68°F when you're home — and lower when you're asleep or away — can reduce energy use while keeping your space comfortable.
- Layer up, even indoors. A light sweater can add 2-4 degrees of warmth without adjusting your thermostat.
- Use sunlight to your advantage. Open curtains or blinds on sunny hours to naturally warm your home. Close them at night to retain heat.
- Postpone using large appliances. Running dishwashers, dryers and ovens outside morning and evening peak hours helps ease stress on the grid.
- Seal leaks around doors and windows. Even simple measures like placing towels at the base of drafty doors can help keep warm air in and cold air out.
- Close off unused rooms. Shutting doors to rooms you don't use often helps concentrate heat where you need it most.
- Use space heaters wisely. If you use a space heater, heat only the room you're in and turn it off when you leave. Always follow the manufacturer's safety instructions.
- Reverse your ceiling fans. Set fans to run clockwise at low speed to gently push warm air down from the ceiling.
LES continues to monitor system conditions around the clock as temperatures drop. The utility follows guidance from the Southwest Power Pool, Nebraska's grid operator, regarding energy advisories, conservation alerts and emergency procedures.
At this time, SPP has not issued a public conservation appeal for its 14-state region. You can follow current energy usage in the SPP footprint at Integrated Marketplace Forecast vs. Actual (spp.org), and you can see up-to-date information on the current grid conditions and explanations for each advisory level at Current Grid Conditions – Southwest Power Pool (spp.org).
“By working together, we can stay safe, save energy and remain resilient through periods of extreme cold,” added Shkolnick.
For additional energy-saving tips, visit LES.com and follow LES on social media.