Preparing for Winter Weather
When extreme winter weather hits Texas, these home preparation tips and reminders can help you stay safe and comfortable:
- Keep an eye out for alerts in your area so you can tailor your plans as the situation unfolds. Turn on emergency alerts on your smartphone.
- Turn off outside faucets. Remove all connected hoses and wrap faucets with towels or a Styrofoam insulator. Turn off and drain automatic sprinkler systems.
- Protect indoor faucets. Open cabinets under kitchen and bathroom sinks to allow warmer air to circulate around pipes.
- Stock up on critical supplies to last at least 3 days, including medicine, first aid items, water, non-perishable food (for pets too!), candles, matches/lighters, flashlights, a battery-powered radio for outage announcements and batteries in various sizes.
- Preserve your phone battery by switching to power save mode and if possible, keep a backup power source, like an external battery, charged.
- If the power goes out, limit how often you open the fridge and freezer doors to keep cold items safe as long as possible.
- If the power goes out and you can safely get to a shelter or another location with heat, grab a bag of supplies, toiletries and extra clothes before heading out the door.
In the case of power outages, turn to your Transmission and Distribution Utility (TDU), the entity responsible for restoring power. You can also sign up for your TDU's outage notifications.
Tips & Tools
A/C & Electric Heat
Most of your electricity use goes toward heating and cooling your home. You’ll use less when temps are mild, and here’s how to save when it’s colder.
- Lower your thermostat a few degrees from its normal setting when it’s coldest outside, like overnight and early mornings during winter.
- Run your ceiling fan clockwise at its lowest speed to help push warm air into the room. The fan’s directional switch is usually located near the base.
- Seal any air leaks around windows and doors to help keep warm air inside. You can find weatherstripping at most hardware or home improvement stores.
- Change your air filters regularly, especially if you have pets.
Budget Resources
Weekly Usage Report
Your personalized report shows your most recent usage and how it compares to the week before, as well as ways to save energy and money. Look for it in your email every Tuesday.
Payment Flexibility
- Texas weather can be tough on usage and bills, but we're here for you with payment flexibility when you need it. Call us at 877-933-2453.
- If you or someone you know needs bill-payment assistance, call 2-1-1 or visit 211texas.org to find local programs that can help.