(St. Francois County, MO) Ameren Missouri officials are asking electric customers to conserve electrical power until further notice due to the extreme cold weather and high electrical demand. A press release from Ameren reports energy companies in the Midwest have been notified by the regional electric grid operator, known as the Midcontinent Independent System Operator, or MISO, to ask customers to cut back. Immediate ways to conserve electricity include setting your thermostat to 68 degrees or lower. Turn your thermostat down at night while sleeping, unplug or turn off nonessential appliances, avoid using large appliances such as ovens and dryers, and on electric hot water heaters, reduce the temperature setting. Ameren Missouri administrators say they don't anticipate any rolling black outs as are happening in other parts of the country.