By Associated Press - Tuesday, February 16, 2021

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - Energy companies across Kansas suspended rolling power blackouts Tuesday but asked customers to continue conserving energy as the state remains in the deep freeze.

Evergy, Midwest Energy and Sunflower Electric had imposed rolling blackouts on thousands of customers Monday and early Tuesday. They notified customers at mid-morning Tuesday that the order to impose blackouts had been lifted by the Southwest Power Pool, which oversees utilities in 14 states.

The utilities warned the blackouts could return without warning if demand continues to outpace supply.

Kansas Gas Service on Tuesday directed large commercial, industrial and transport customers to reduce their usage to the lowest possible level that will prevent pipes from freezing or damage equipment. The order was designed to avert further disruption in services, the utility said.

The order does not apply to schools, hospitals, health care facilities, hotels or lodging facilities, grocery stores, universities, colleges, churches, public safety buildings, multi-family dwellings and apartments, Kansas Gas Service said.

The blackouts early Tuesday came as temperatures dropped to minus 17 in the Wichita area, minus 16 in Hays, minus 22 in Chanute and minus 15 in Russell overnight Monday. Highs on Tuesday were not expected to reach 20 in much of the state and parts of central Kansas were forecast to receive 1 to 3 inches of snow by Wednesday.

The cold shut down most activities in Kansas on Tuesday. Many schools - from elementary to universities including the University of Kansas and Kansas State University- called off both remote and in-person classes. Many sports and court functions also were postponed, and all flights out of Manhattan Regional Airport were canceled.

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