Utilities start power cutbacks

Utilities in the Mid-Atlantic and Great Lakes areas imposed mandatory power cutbacks on business and industry as a result of the coal strike. Non-union coal deliveries were protected by the state police and National Guardsmen in some locations, but these new supplies were not adequate. Monongohela Power planed to check meters in order to enforce compliance with its curtailments. The utilities also asked all their customers to voluntarily reduce their power use. All the utilities requested curtailment directives from the governors because users were slow to respond to the coal shortage. Coal supplies and curtailment plans are reviewed for several states, including utilities in Indiana, Ohio, Alabama, and Pennsylvania.