SLEMCO has received word from its power supplier that the transmission grid bringing power to the Acadiana area is severely overloaded due to extremely hot weather conditions.   At this time SLEMCO is asking all consumers to minimize their electric usage until after 9:00 p.m. this evening.  Even with these conservation measures, it may be possible later this afternoon to initiate rolling blackouts in some areas of the SLEMCO service territory.
 Maximum conservation can be achieved by raising air conditioning thermostats to at least 80 degrees and by turning off electric water heaters at the breaker until later this evening since these are the types of equipment that use the most electricity.  Turning off lights and other appliances will help the situation as well.