OKLAHOMA CITY – The Southwest Power Pool (SPP), power grid operator for a region covering 14 states in the central U.S., has joined the call to ask electrical utility customers and businesses to reduce their natural gas usage by conserving electricity use.

Much of the mid-continent is experiencing an exceptionally high demand for electricity because of extreme, frigid temperatures.

Some electricity conservation options are:

• Turn down thermostats to 68 degrees
• Avoid using major household electric appliances such as ovens, dishwashers and washer/dryers, etc.
• Turn off non-essential electric appliances, lights and equipment
• Businesses should minimize the use of electric lighting and electricity-consuming equipment as much as possible
• Large consumers of electricity should consider shutting down or reducing non-essential production processes

Following these guidelines to reduce the use of electricity will help avoid possible electric power shortages later. Given the prolonged, below-freezing temperatures, conservation measures should be implemented safely and within reason.

SPP has 95 members, including investor-owned utilities, municipal systems, generation and transmission cooperatives, state authorities, wholesale generators and independent transmission companies, in Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas and Wyoming.

About SPP
SPP is an independent, non-profit organization that manages the bulk power system under rules and regulations of the North American Electric Reliability Corporation and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. SPP does not own or operate generation or transmission facilities. Similar to air traffic controllers who monitor air space, SPP monitors the electric power network to ensure that electricity safely and reliably gets to end-use customers in a 14-state region. SPP maintains and implements real-time contingency plans to address emergencies on the electric grid. About OG&E Oklahoma Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of OGE Energy Corp. (NYSE: OGE), is Oklahoma’s largest electric utility. For more than a century, we have provided customers in Oklahoma and western Arkansas the safe, reliable electricity needed to power their businesses and homes at rates below the national average. Our employees are committed to generating and delivering electricity, protecting the environment and providing excellent service to our 858,000 customers. OG&E has 7,081 MW of electric generation capacity fueled by low-sulfur coal, natural gas, wind and solar. OG&E employees live, work and volunteer in the communities we serve. For more information about OG&E, visit our website at http://www.oge.com or follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ogepower and Twitter: @OGandE.

Contact: Brian Alford
(405) 553-3187