Anchorage residents are facing a stark warning as winter planning comes into focus.
Enstar, the region's largest gas utility, says its gas supply could come up short by more than two weeks this winter even under normal conditions.
Here's what to know
Enstar President John Sims recently told lawmakers at a legislative hearing that "Enstar is 18 days short of gas ... and that's for normal temperatures," according to Alaska's News Source. Enstar currently supplies more than 136,000 customers. But as local supplies continue to fall, lawmakers fear the problem may become a crisis.
"If the temperature is warm, it will look like I'm fearmongering and I'm crying wolf," Sims told officials, per Alaska's News Source, adding, "If it is cold, we'll all experience the cautions and the concern that the utility has… The time where we can start asking for a short-term solution that is at a low cost" has come and gone.
The main takeaway was that no simple household adjustment is likely to fix the problem. Sims said turning down the thermostat a few degrees could still save a little on a heating bill, but it would not significantly reduce the company's overall shortfall.
Sims and several lawmakers said a long-discussed gas pipeline may help, but they acknowledged that it cannot provide gas in 2026 or 2027.
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Residents have taken note of the warnings. One worried Alaskan took to Reddit's r/Preppers community to ask how others are preparing.
In response, one Anchorage resident wrote, "Better insulate your house using cling film over windows, identifying and replacing drafty door seals."
Another added, "I would get a set of heated clothes, and a power station to recharge them. It is far more power efficient to keep your own body warm than it is to heat a space."
Where can I learn more?
The following stories also show how homeowners, utilities, and local governments elsewhere are dealing with high energy costs and reliance on gas.
• In Florida, FPL offered a free energy-saving kit that helped lower home utility costs.
• One homeowner used budget-friendly room dividers to keep unused spaces warmer through winter.
• In Syracuse, developers are building all-electric homes without gas to reduce fuel dependence.
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