Take Steps Now to Prepare Yourself and Your Home
Fall is here, bringing a welcome reprieve from the Texas summer heat. However, it’s not too early to begin planning ahead for the winter season. PEC has been working hard to prepare for cold weather, and we encourage you to do the same.
Prep your home
There are a few simple steps you can take today that could pay off later. During a winter storm, snow or ice can weigh down tree limbs and cause them to come in contact with power lines. Our vegetation maintenance team works proactively by focusing on trimming where it is needed most, but we need your help, too.
There are some simple steps you can take to prepare for winter:
Visually inspect tree limbs
Check the trees on your property; if any branches are hanging over or are at risk of falling into power lines, request free trimming by logging in to your PEC account or calling us at 888-554-4732. Never trim trees near electrical equipment yourself!
Check your heating system
Schedule a time to have it serviced by a professional, and remember to change your air filter once a month or when it’s dirty.
Seal doorways and windows
If you have any open spaces around windows or doors, seal them with caulk and weatherstripping so that warm air stays in your home.
Drip faucets
Be sure to drip your faucets when temperatures drop below freezing to prevent pipes from bursting.
Prepare an emergency kit
If you’re stuck without power during a winter storm, an emergency kit can come in handy. Be sure to have these items in your kit:
- Portable chargers and batteries
- Warm clothing and blankets
- An alternative heat source and/or firewood
- Fuel for your vehicles and generator
- Medications
- Pet food
- Non-perishable food items and water
- Your PEC account number
Stay in touch
Add your mobile number to your PEC account at pec.smarthub.coop and you’ll be able to stay in touch with us. We’ll send messages when it’s important, like during an emergency or when an outage is planned at your location. Message and data rates may apply. You may opt out at any time by texting “STOP” to 25022.
Know how to report an outage
PEC offers several ways to report your
outage easily:
- Go to map.myPEC.com.
- Text “OUTAGE” to 25022.
- Log in to pec.smarthub.coop.
- Call us at 888-883-3379.
Generator safety
Having a generator is a convenient way to power your home during an emergency, but they also pose serious safety risks if not used properly. Exposure to generator exhaust can cause carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. Install CO alarms and never use a generator indoors.
