Gov Stitt addresses winter storm effects on Oklahomans utility bills | News ktbs.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from ktbs.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Updated: 12:31 PM CST Feb 22, 2021
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Show Transcript Good morning, everybody. Uh, we re here today to give you an update on last week s winter storm. I m here with Speaker Charles McCall, Senate Pro TEM Greg Treat, our secretary of Energy Environment, Ken Wagner, Attorney General Mike Connor and Director of Emergency Management Mark Gower. Thank you guys all so much for being with me today. Last week s winter storm was historic for our state, both in weather and how it affected our utility system. In Oklahoma City, the temperature hit 14 below zero. It was the coldest it had been since 18 99. We stayed below 20 degrees for almost a week straight, the longest in at least 60 years. This truly was a once in a lifetime storm. Across the country, there were more than 100 records set for all time cold temperatures last week. Whether that cold for that long has caused problems on our power system that we ve never seen before. The Southwest Power Pool became
Updated: 12:17 PM CST Feb 22, 2021
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Show Transcript Good morning, everybody. Uh, we re here today to give you an update on last week s winter storm. I m here with Speaker Charles McCall, Senate Pro TEM Greg Treat, our secretary of Energy Environment, Ken Wagner, Attorney General Mike Connor and Director of Emergency Management Mark Gower. Thank you guys all so much for being with me today. Last week s winter storm was historic for our state, both in weather and how it affected our utility system. In Oklahoma City, the temperature hit 14 below zero. It was the coldest it had been since 18 99. We stayed below 20 degrees for almost a week straight, the longest in at least 60 years. This truly was a once in a lifetime storm. Across the country, there were more than 100 records set for all time cold temperatures last week. Whether that cold for that long has caused problems on our power system that we ve never seen before. The Southwest Power Pool became
Updated February 18 at 5:25 p.m.
In the wake of this week’s damage to the state s water infrastructure, Oklahoma could soon face mandatory boil orders. Environment officials anticipate the damage and response will continue for weeks.
The Department of Environmental Quality issued a release on Thursday, warning that precautionary boil advisories could increase in coming days, and that mandatory boil orders are possible.
The release advised Oklahomans with extremely low water pressure or total water loss to notify their water service provider as quickly as possible and follow these recommendations:
Once the water comes back on, flush the water for five minutes or until fresh, clear water comes out of the tap.
Updated February 18 at 12:44 p.m.
Oklahoma City has been struggling to meet its water demand, and that will likely continue after the snow melts and temperatures rise above freezing.
Like power infrastructure across the state, Oklahoma City’s water infrastructure was stressed to the breaking point this week. The cold created a surge in demand. Dripping faucets drove water use up by 100 percent, according to city utilities director Chris Browning.
Additionally, the weather taxed the city’s ability to provide water. Power outages left facilities in the dark, and it was so cold that diesel for generators froze. Of course, burst pipes across the city affected the system. There have also been water main breaks.