With frigid temperatures for a second straight day, Ameren Illinois and Corn Belt Energy customers on Saturday were asked to reduce their non-essential use of electricity following an emergency warning by the regional grid operator MISO. Those conservation measures were lifted around 10 a.m. Saturday.
MISO, the regional grid operator, issued an Energy Emergency Alert Level 2, or EEA2. That type of alert is triggered when MISO is facing an energy shortage and needs to increase generation available to meet demand.
"The extreme cold is causing power usage to increase, and we are also seeing unplanned generator outages," a MISO spokesperson told WGLT. "By declaring EEA2, MISO operators can access emergency generation not available under normal conditions. Our operators may also purchase emergency generation from neighboring grids if available."
As the morning evolved and conditions changed, "MISO's operators have determined that public conservation is no longer needed. The EEA2 declaration is scheduled to last until [10 a.m. Central time]," the MISO spokesperson said.
Indeed, by 11 a.m., MISO had upgraded its grid condition to "stable," an improvement from EEA2, according to its website.
Prior to that warning being lifted, Ameren Illinois had asked customers to lower their thermostats, cover drafty windows, unplug or turn off nonessential appliances, and reduce the temperature setting on electric water heaters. Ameren has over 60,000 customers in McLean County.
Corn Belt Energy, an energy cooperative with about 24,000 customers in McLean County, went a bit further — asking customers to "immediately discontinue all non-essential use of electricity." Corn Belt said the emergency conservation measures "may help eliminate or reduce the duration of power outages." Unit 5 school district officials said they were asked by Corn Belt to put both of their high schools on generator power.
An Ameren spokesperson told WGLT around 9:20 a.m. that they were not expecting power outages and have not yet asked large-load customers to significantly reduce usage. The spokesperson called this a precautionary message and that the utility’s electric transmission and natural-gas systems were stable.
Corn Belt suggested customers lower their energy use by:
- Lower the temperature on your thermostat and use alternate heat sources (gas, wood fireplaces, etc.) if possible.
- Unplug electronic devices, vehicles, and turn off lights that are not in use.
- Postpone using clothes washers, dryers, dishwashers, and non-essential appliances.
- Avoid use of hot water, electric ranges, and ovens.
Corn Belt has asked its customers to reduce electricity use before. That happened at least twice over summer 2025 as higher temperatures increased power use, although customers then were only asked to reduce usage during peak hours. Saturday's warning did not limit restrictions to any peak times.
