Peoria, Ill — Supply chain interruptions did not impact the flow of much needed natural gas to heat tens of thousands of homes across the central Illinois region.
It’s the assurance we get from Ameren Illinois as the region remains in the grip of a hard freeze with temps in the single digits and sub-zero wind chills.
The utility’s Gas Storage Director, Steve Underwood says the gas is delivered by secure pipelines and then distributed to a dozen deep-underground gas storage fields across the state.
“We have 12 gas storage fields, in which we store 24 billion cubic feet of natural gas in the ground”, he says.
One of the largest gas storage fields is actually in the Peoria area.
The utility says, all by itself, the Glasford underground gas storage facility could fill Busch Stadium 175.
Underwood says Ameren will probably run through its entire stored supply of gas to get the region through the coming winter months.
His job will then be to refill that storage capacity this summer, he says, primarily through the purchase of gas products from Texas and Oklahoma.
In the meantime, Underwood encourages all residents and Ameren customers to continue focusing on efficient natural gas use.
The utility passed along some efficient home-heating tips;
Upgrade to a smart thermostat
Weather can be unpredictable in Illinois, so recruit a smart thermostat to balance it out. A smart thermostat provides many new benefits and can simplify your life while saving you energy. Smart thermostats can learn your schedule and automatically drop and raise your home’s temperature while you come and go. Your smart thermostat can also be controlled through your smart phone. Coming home early from work? Heading home from the airport? Still in bed and wish it was a bit warmer? If you’ve got your smart phone handy, you have control of your thermostat! Best of all, you can even save money when you purchase an ENERGY STAR® certified smart thermostat with these rebates available from Ameren Illinois!
Let the sunshine in
Take advantage of heat from the sun by opening window shades and curtains on the south side of your house so those warm rays of sunshine can heat up your home. At night, close the curtains to keep the heat inside.
Get a humidifier
In the winter, the cold weather can make the air in your home very dry. A humidifier puts moisture back into the air, which makes it feel warmer and holds heat better — so you can set your thermostat at a lower temperature and still feel comfortable.
Unplug unnecessary electronics
Even when an electronic device is turned off, it still draws some power from the outlet — wasting energy. If you plan on taking a trip this winter, be sure to unplug any appliances or electronic devices before you leave that won’t need power while you’re gone.
Use your fireplace carefully
Be sure to keep your fireplace damper closed unless a fire is burning so your heat doesn’t escape up the chimney. To prevent heat loss when using your fireplace, install tempered glass doors to keep the warm air in, and a heat-air exchange system, which blows the warm air back into the room.
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