PIERRE, S.D.(DRGNews)- As the temperatures outdoors have risen into the 90s and 100s, people are trying to bring down the temperatures they’re living and working in indoors. That puts additional pressure on the electrical grid in the US.

Pierre Utilities Director Brad Palmer says making some small changes at home can make a big impact.

Palmer says commercial businesses can also do some things to help reduce the demand for electricity.

If you’re buying new appliances, Palmer says encourages people to be sure they’re energy efficient.

Palmer says energy is generated on demand, which means power providers can’t predict if or when, exactly, there will be an energy shortage that leads to the need for short-term power outages. He says if there is a controlled outage in Pierre, it’s unlikely the entire City will be impacted at once and any outage is not expected to last more than two hours.

People concerned about potential short-term outages can go to cityofpierre.org and register to receive energy alert notifications by going to public.alertsense.com.