Power outages can cause a number of safety concerns.

When a power outage occurs:

• Turn off lights and electrical equipment. Leave on one light or piece of equipment so you will know  when power is restored.
• Stay away from downed power lines and sagging trees with broken limbs.
•  Keep doors to refrigerators and freezers closed.

Food Safety during power outage: 

• visit www.foodsafety.gov
• Your food should be safe as long as power is out no more than 4 hours.
• Discard any perishable food (such as meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and leftovers) that have been above 40 degrees F for over 2 hours.

Energy Emergency Alert Communications Conservation Tips Consumers

• Shutting off unnecessary lights and electrical appliances between 3 and 7 p.m., and
• Delaying laundry and other activities requiring electricity-consuming appliances until later in the evening.

Other conservation tips from the Public Utility Commission’s “Powerful Advice”  

• Turn off all unnecessary lights, appliances, and electronic equipment.
• When at home, close blinds and drapes that get direct sun, set air conditioning thermostats to 78 degrees or higher, and use fans in occupied rooms to feel cooler.
• When away from home, set air conditioning thermostats to 85 degrees and turn all fans off before you leave. Block the sun by closing blinds or drapes on windows that will get direct sun.
• Do not use your dishwasher, laundry equipment, hair dryers, coffee makers, or other home appliances during the peak hours of 3 to 7 p.m.
• Avoid opening refrigerators or freezers more than necessary.
• Use microwaves for cooking instead of an electric range or oven.
• Set your pool pump to run in the early morning or evening instead of the afternoon. Businesses should minimize the use of electric lighting and electricity-consuming equipment as much as possible. Large consumers of electricity should consider shutting down or reducing non-essential production processes.

How to Track Electricity Demand:

• View daily peak demand forecast and current load at http://www.ercot.com/
• View daily peak demands by the hour at this link

 Contact Information:

• Get real-time notices of energy emergency alerts by following ERCOT on Twitter Consumer Assistance
• Public Utility Commission Consumer Hotline – 1-888-782-8777
• Office of Public Utility Counsel Consumer Assistance – 1-877-839-0363
• Call Your Electric Utility for Information about Local Outages ERCOT manages the state’s high-voltage bulk electricity grid.
• For questions about local outages at your home or business, or questions about rotating outage procedures for your neighborhood, contact the utility company or transmission provider listed on your electric bill.

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