UPDATE: Rolling blackouts in the Springfield area have been rescinded early this afternoon.

City Utilities of Springfield reduced its electric load around noon today, ranging from 30 to 60 minutes.

The Southwest Power Pool, a group of power companies throughout 14 states pulled back the blackouts.

A spokesperson for CU says the blackouts could be requested again if the situation gets worse with the weather and demand.

Utility companies across Southwest Missouri have all asked customers to conserve energy when possible due to limited supply of natural gas.

Power suppliers say natural gas has reached peak demand during the cold snap.

The limited supply is due to natural gas wells in Southwest Missouri freezing.

Original Story below

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Springfield City Utilities is doing rolling blackouts to keep up with the demand for power in the Midwest.

CU, Nixa and other utilities across 14 states are required to do the blackouts.

CU spokesman Joel Alexander says the utility got 30 minutes warning before it was told the blackouts must start.

They’ve already begun here in Springfield.

CU plans to shut off the power for 30 to 60 minutes across different parts of Springfield.

Alexander says the mandatory rolling blackouts have never happened in Springfield.