Tuesday | December 20, 2022
All News

Medina EC is monitoring weather across our service area. The National Weather Service predicts a strong arctic front across the state on Thursday, December 22, which will bring high winds and freezing temperatures.

Our crews and staff are ready to respond if there are outages from heavy winds, trees in the lines, vehicle accidents or any other causes. In the event of large or extended power outages, we will post updates on our website under "Latest News" and our Facebook page. You can also track any issues crews are facing and view our outage map at MedinaEC.org/Outages.

 

OUTAGE REPORTING

Please do not email or send messages through Facebook to report outages. Even if your neighbors have reported the outage, please report your meter as also being out. This helps crews identify the cause and scale of the outage and aids them in the restoration process.

 

PREPAREDNESS

Take time to protect the 4-Ps—people, pets, pipes and plants.

  • Ensure people are dressed properly paying special attention to children and the elderly.
  • Bring pets inside or make sure they have adequate shelter.
  • Insulate or cover exposed pipes. Allow them to slow drip.
  • Bring plants inside or water them before the freeze.
  • Secure or put away outdoor items like trampolines, sports equipment, patio furniture and trash cans. Don't forget your holiday decorations.

 

SAFETY

Stay warm and safe.

  • Use space heaters safely. Keep them away from flammable sources.
  • Keep heating elements like fires and space heaters supervised.
  • Do not use a stove or oven to heat your home.
  • Do not operate generators inside the home or garage.

 

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

When the temperature outside drops, your energy use may increase. These tips can help you save energy and money on your electric bill.

  • Adjust your thermostat one to two degrees lower than normal.
  • Keep drapes and blinds open during the day to allow solar heat to warm your home and close them at night to seal the warmth in.
  • Seal any gaps that create drafts in your home, and make sure you have adequate insulation. If you live in a pier and beam home or a mobile home, make sure there is insulation under the floor and proper skirting.

 

ERCOT & GRID CONDITIONS

At this time, ERCOT is not requesting any conservation efforts. For the most current information on the electric grid, download the ERCOT app (Google Play or App Store) and enable push notifications for alerts. Read their latest news releases on their website.

Sign up for grid text notifications from Medina EC by texting ERCOT to 1-855-429-1119; These will come from Medina EC as able based on the information we have been provided.

 

LIFE SUPPORT REGISTRY

If someone in your home depends on an electrically operated health aid, sign up for Medina EC's Life Support Registry. To sign up for the registry, you must complete the form on our website and submit a physician's directive prescription. Please note, Medina EC's Life Support Registry does not guarantee there will be no power interruptions. Power outages happen for many reasons that may be out of the cooperative's control.