Cold weather is causing a surge in energy use

Fargo, ND (WDAY TV) -- This cold weather is causing a surge in gas energy usage.

Xcel energy says most of their residential gas customers use it for heating.

The colder it gets, the more gas they use. This past week they have seen peak numbers in gas usage, but electric power has stayed relatively the same.

Brady Sylliaasen, construction & maintenance manager, says, "From a utilities standpoint, a gas-electric utilities standpoint, we tend to have peaks and obviously those are affected by the weather. Typically, from the electric utility, our peak is actually in the summer."

Xcel says people don't need to worry about safety with their gas - their infrastructure is designed to handle even these frigid temperatures.

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