Winter is a beautiful time of the year with white snow and sparkling ice, but that same winter weather can also cause problems that disrupt our lives. Heavy snow and accumulating ice can drop tree limbs onto power lines, cutting off power to homes and businesses.
Make sure you get winter outage alerts and updates on your phone by signing up for LPEA’s Outage Texting Service. Text “TEXTLPEA” to 1 (888) 839-5732 from the phone registered on your account. Register your phone(s) on SmartHub or by calling us.
Here are eight actions you can take to prepare NOW for any cold weather and outages to come.
- Trim problem trees: Survey your property and cut or trim any problem trees BEFORE the ice comes. LPEA trims problem trees in our Right-of-Ways, and private companies can help you maintain the rest. Visit HERE to learn more about which trees LPEA can help you maintain and which are your responsibility.
- Weatherize your home: Make sure your home is properly insulated. Caulk and weather-strip doors and windowsills to keep cold air out. Install storm windows or cover windows with plastic from the inside to provide an extra layer of insulation to keep cold air out. Pro tip: LPEA and First Southwest Bank offer low-interest loans for weatherization through our On-Bill Financing Program.
- Back it up: Consider buying emergency heating equipment, such as a wood-burning stove. Safely store enough heating fuel for 3-5 days.
- Protect your appliances: We recommend you protect your appliances from surges by installing surge protectors. LPEA sells and installs whole home surge protectors for your property (not available for three-phase, A1, A4, A7, or 8A meters).
- If you live in an area regularly impacted by storms and/or need to ensure 24/7 electricity for your property, you may want to consider a backup generator. LPEA offers these guidelines to ensure your generator is installed and operated safely.
- Put an emergency kit together, including the following items:
- Non-perishable food and water to last 3-5 days
- Hand-operated can opener, wet wipes, and hand sanitizer
- Back-up plugs and chargers for your electronic devices
- Battery-operated radio flashlights and lanterns with new batteries
- Carbon monoxide detector
- Fire extinguisher
- First-aid kit and prescription/OTC meds
Bookmark LPEA’s outage viewer map, which provides up-to-the-minute details on LPEA outages.