Winter Storm Gianna: Cold Weather Energy Tips & Outage Reporting
Four County EMC is closely monitoring Winter Storm Gianna as it moves through our service area.
The primary concern with this storm is the extreme cold. When temperatures drop this low, electric heat pumps may rely on auxiliary heat, often called heat strips, to maintain indoor comfort. Heat strips use significantly more electricity than normal heat pump operation and can cause a noticeable increase in energy use and electric bills.
Members can take the following steps to help manage energy use during extremely cold weather:
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Set your thermostat to 68 degrees. Lowering your thermostat helps reduce how often heat strips engage and can limit sudden increases in energy use.
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Avoid raising the thermostat above your normal setting. Turning the thermostat up will not heat your home faster and may increase energy use.
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Seal drafts and close curtains or blinds at night to keep cold air out and warm air in.
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Limit the use of large electric appliances during the coldest parts of the day to reduce overall demand.
While widespread outages are not expected, members should know how to report them if needed:
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Text OUTAGE to 1-888-368-7289
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Call the 24/7 outage hotline at 1-888-368-7289
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Use the Four County EMC mobile app and select “Report Outage”
For safety, please stay clear of downed power lines and report them immediately.
Four County EMC crews are on standby and will respond as needed. We appreciate our members’ efforts to stay safe and manage energy use during this period of extreme cold.