CORPUS CHRISTI – AEP Texas is making preparations for the cold winter weather that will impact its service area in south and west Texas this week.
David Hooper, vice president of electric distribution, said his management team is meeting today to make sure the company has the needed materials and personnel to handle any weather-related outages that may occur.
“We take storm preparations seriously and we’ll have our personnel and other resources on standby,” Hooper said.
AEP Texas also has canceled scheduled maintenance outages to its transmission system to help ensure adequate electric system capacity as temperatures drop.
The company recommends that electric customers take measures in preparation for the cold. Here are some important tips to remember when severe weather threatens:
* Prepare your family by keeping flashlights and portable radios on hand.
* Always stay away from downed power lines, and keep others away, too. Although the line may look harmless, it could be carrying electricity. Report any downed utility lines to AEP Texas, the police or fire department.
* If the power outage is projected to last overnight or longer and the temperatures are projected to dip below freezing,consider moving to a shelter or in with friends or relatives if you have electric heat.
* If you will be gone during the cold inclement weather, protect your water pipes from freezing by turning the water off at the main shutoff valve and opening faucets to drain the water.
* If you use a portable generator, DO NOT plug the generator into your circuit box. Portable generators “back-feed” electricity up the line and risk the lives of repair workers and the public. Plug appliances directly into the generator.
* To report an outage, call the number on your electric bill, or call toll-free 866-223-8508. You also may visit aeptexas.com to report an outage.
* Be extremely careful when using any alternate forms of heating, cooking and lighting. Never use charcoal inside the home, or use your oven as a heating source.
* If an outage occurs, unplug or turn off major appliances and electronic equipment like televisions, VCRs and computers. Turn them on one at a time when power is restored.
Stay tuned to local news media for updates on the storm situation and recovery progress. Updates on major outages also will be posted to our Storms and Outages page on www.AEPTexas.com.
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AEP Texas, a unit of American Electric Power, delivers electricity to 900,000 homes, businesses and industries in south and west Texas. AEP Texas provides regulated energy delivery service to consumers, regardless of which Retail Electric Provider they choose. The region headquarters is in Corpus Christi.