Energy Alert Advisory – Potential New Peak Demand Period This Week
July 22, 2025 3:19 PM

Dear Campus Community,

The National Weather Service has issued an Extreme Heat Watch for Champaign County and surrounding areas on July 23 and 24, with forecasted daily heat indices ranging from 107°F to 115°F. The severe hot and humid conditions will necessitate the activation of widespread energy conservation and optimization strategies at the U. of I. to help reduce the campus' energy demand and protect building systems and equipment.

Energy conservation efforts should be prioritized in university facilities between 1 p.m. and 8 p.m. each day this week. Special consideration should also be given to any focused actions that can be taken on Wednesday and Thursday, as projections indicate that the regional grid run by the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) could reach a new summer demand peak then—exceeding the most recent event in June. Although Abbott Power Plant generates approximately half of the campus’ electricity, the remainder is purchased from the regional electric grid. Reducing the university's energy consumption during peak periods helps lower the total cost of electricity when prices increase throughout high-demand periods, as well as lessen the capacity charge that MISO assesses the campus for the coming year.

Take Energy Action!
Facilities & Services (F&S) requests that all students, faculty, and staff work to conserve energy to the greatest extent possible. Individual and team actions add up and can significantly reduce campus demand during these peak energy periods. 

If practical, please shut off, shut down, put into sleep mode, or unplug the following:

• Lights
• Computers
• Monitors
• Printers
• Chargers
• Appliances
• Other nonessential equipment

Close the following items to protect facility equipment and systems:    

• Outside windows and doors in air-conditioned areas
• Fume hood sashes when not in use

Before leaving for the day or extended periods, remember to:

• Turn off or unplug nonessential devices and equipment
• Power down lab and office electronics where appropriate
• Ensure lights are off in unused spaces  

Report Hot and Cold Temperature Issues Immediately
While in university facilities, report any temperature-related issues regarding specific rooms or building spaces to the F&S Energy Management Control Center, 217-244-3783. Coordinate with unit facility managers and building contacts as typical throughout the notification and review process. 

Event Day Action Planning Resources
F&S recently updated the Electrical Energy Curtailment Planning Guide and Event Day Action Plan documents to support unit, college, and departmental large-scale energy conservation planning. Should emergency conditions arise on the regional grid, F&S will utilize established operational strategies and business continuity plans developed to meet the university’s energy needs for all essential services to the campus. Units are strongly encouraged to review this information to help establish plans that can be enacted in the future to address various curtailment phases, should they arise, or contribute to a more comprehensive energy alert response. For planning assistance or questions regarding this initiative, please contact Energy Efficiency and Conservation Specialist Paul Foote, 217-244-1048.

Thank you for consistently being thoughtful and resourceful by doing what you can to steward resources and safeguard operations, especially during these high-temperature events. Your continued partnership is crucial in reducing campus energy demand. 

Sincerely,

Jeffrey Angiel
Associate Vice Chancellor and Executive Director, Facilities & Services