Winter Preparedness & Safety

 
 
 
 
 
 

We Are Prepared for Winter and
We Want You to Be Prepared Too!

We believe in year-round Reliability! We want our community to know what we did to prepare for extreme weather.  We made improvements in three key areas: weatherization, infrastructure, and communications.  

  • Change Your Thermostat Settings: When you're at home, keep your thermostat at 68 degrees. When you're not home or sleeping, lower it for optimal energy conservation.
  • Practice Safe Space Heater Usage: Keep space heaters at least three feet away from flammable items and never leave them unattended. Always turn them off when leaving the room or going to bed.
  • Safe Generator Usage: Never use a generator indoors or in enclosed spaces such as garages. Always ensure it's placed in a well-ventilated area. 
  • Insulate Your Home: Check for drafts in windows, doors, and attics. Proper insulation keeps your home warm and reduces the need for excessive heating.
  • Maintain Your Heating System: Regular maintenance ensures your heating system works efficiently. Remember to replace filters regularly.
  • Prepare for Power Outages: Winter storms can cause power outages. Keep a supply of flashlights, batteries, and warm blankets handy.
  • Conserve Water: Insulate water pipes to prevent freezing and bursting. Try to limit hot water usage to conserve energy.
  • Electric Vehicle Charging: Plan your EV charging during off-peak hours to help conserve energy and reduce strain on the electric grid.

Space Heaters can be a great way to warm up, but they can also present serious risks of fire and electric shock if not handled correctly. 
 
Here are some safety tips:
  • Never use the kitchen stove/oven as a space heater
  • Maintain a minimum distance of 3 feet away from flammable items such as curtains, furniture, or bedding.
  • Keep pets and children at a safe distance from a space heater.
  • Never leave a space heater unattended. Switch it off when exiting a room or before going to bed. Always unplug your electric space heater when not in use.
  • Connect the heater directly to a wall socket. If an extension cord is required, ensure it's a heavy-duty one with 14-gauge wire or larger.
  • Install smoke alarms on every floor of your home and outside all sleeping areas and test them monthly.
  • Do not use a space heater with a damaged cord or plug, or after it has malfunctioned in any way.
  • Space heaters are designed to provide additional heat and should not be used for warming bedding, cooking food, drying clothes, or thawing pipes.
  • Make sure your heater is equipped with an automatic shut-off feature to turn it off if it topples over.
  • Regularly check for a secure plug/outlet connection. If the plug becomes excessively hot, the outlet may need to be replaced by a professional. This could indicate a potential fire risk.

  • Don’t wait for an emergency or power outage, make a family emergency plan now. If you have medical equipment that requires electricity or medicines that need refrigeration, check with your doctor when making your plan. You can find plan ideas at ready.gov/plan.
  • Add/Update Emergency Contact Information through CPS Energy’s Manage My Account (MMA) portal, or by calling Customer Service at 210-353-2222.
  • Also, register through MMA to receive Energy Alerts from CPS Energy. Find out more by visiting: cpsenergy.com/alerts.
  • Create an emergency kit for your family. Be sure to include flashlights, water, and canned and dried foods that don’t require refrigeration in your emergency kit. Ready.gov/kit is a good source for emergency kit information and supply lists.
  • Locate your electrical breaker box and main breaker switch(es). Watch our "Check Your Breakers" video at cpsenergy.com/outagecenter.
  • Locate your gas and water shutoff valves and know how to use them.
  • Fully charge all electronic devices and devices' battery chargers. Be sure you have a car charger for your cell phone.
  • Review your property insurance and have insurance and other critical documents stored in a safe, accessible location.
  • Have account numbers and important contact information available.
  • Learn more about City of San Antonio & Bexar County Emergency Management..

  • Never use a generator, camp stove, charcoal grill, gasoline heater, or propane heater indoors. These items can start accidental fires, cause electric shock, and cause deadly carbon monoxide poisoning.
  • If cold is extreme, go to a designated community shelter if you can safely do so. Stay indoors and off the roads when possible.
  • Be extra cautious when outdoors in cold weather. Downed power lines can be hidden by snow, trees, or other debris. Always assume a downed power line is live. If you see a downed power line, stay away and call us immediately at 210-353-4357 (HELP).
  • Monitor available communication channels for emergency communications.
  • Conserve energy if requested.
  • Use towels to block drafts around doors and windows.
  • Use the online CPS Energy Outage Center to track power outage details, report an outage, and view outage tips. It is located at cpsenergy.com/outagecenter. You can also report outages by calling 210-353-HELP (4357).
  • If your neighbors have power and you do not, check your breakers.
  • Unplug unnecessary electric appliances and electronics. Use surge protectors to protect electronic equipment and small appliances that must remain plugged in.
  • After a power outage has been restored, wait a few minutes before using your heater or large appliances.
  • Keep freezers and refrigerators closed when your power is out.
  • During an outage, close off unneeded rooms to consolidate and retain heat.
  • Stay warm by dressing in layers of loose-fitting clothing instead of a single heavy layer.
  • If you have multiple mobile phones in the household, keep one phone on for emergency updates and turn the others off to preserve battery life.
  • Conserve power on your mobile phone in case of emergency. Some battery-saving tips include: turning down the screen light, turning off Bluetooth, and closing unused applications.

  • Continue to monitor communication channels for current news and alerts.
  • Check your home for damage to ensure your location is safe.
  • Only drive if necessary, to keep the roads clear for emergency personnel and restoration crews.
  • Review your family emergency plan to determine what you can do better next time.
  • Restock necessary supplies used during the winter season.

  • Install working smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each sleeping area, and on every level
  • Install carbon monoxide alarms in a central location outside sleeping areas
  • Test smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors monthly
  • Replace batteries in smoke alarms yearly on a routine schedule whether needed or not
  • Have your central heating system inspected annually by a licensed professional
  • Keep a dry chemical fire extinguisher in the kitchen
  • Check your natural gas appliances - a yellow or orange flame may indicate a problem and should be checked by a qualified technician
  • What to do if you have a natural gas leak:
    • If you or your family smell something similar to rotten eggs, you could have a natural gas leak
    • Do not use any electrical or battery-powered item, do not switch lights on or off, do not light a match, or use a cell phone - any of these items could send a spark igniting the gas
    • Leave your home immediately
    • Call 911 and CPS Energy at (210) 353-4357 (HELP)
  • Keep flammable liquids and spray cans at least three feet from heating equipment
  • Refrigerated or frozen foods may not be safe to eat after the loss of power. Follow the preparation and safety steps here to keep your food safe.  
  • How to track electricity demand
    • View daily peak demand forecast, current load, and available generation at http://www.ercot.com.
    • Follow ERCOT on Twitter (@ERCOT_ISO) and Facebook (Electric Reliability Council of Texas).
    • Sign up for the ERCOT mobile app (available for download at the Apple App Store and Google Play).
    • Subscribe to the Emergency Alerts list at http://lists.ercot.com.
  • For more information, please visit Safety & Emergency Preparedness