Winter Storm Weather Preparations
January 15, 2024, 10:30 a.m.
Kentucky Power is monitoring wintry weather expected to affect the Kentucky Power territory throughout the week and stands ready to respond as needed. We prepare for all types of weather throughout the year and want to ensure our customers are prepared as well.
Customers are urged to prepare for power outages that could be caused by wintry precipitation. With the extreme cold air expected to impact our service area, being prepared ahead of the storm is the first step to keeping your home and family safe.
- Make a plan in the event a power outage occurs. Check with those who are elderly, have children or have medical conditions to ensure they have a plan.
- Charge devices such as phones, laptops, portable chargers and other electronics that will help you stay connected.
- Prepare an emergency kit. At a minimum, include non-perishable food, water, a flashlight, batteries, a battery-powered radio, a first-aid kit and necessary medications. Emergency kit information is on ourwebsite here.
- If you use a generator, please follow the manufacturer’s operating instructions. Do not operate the unit indoors. Connect all appliances directly to the generator’s electric outlets, not to the main electrical panel of your home or business unless you have had an electric load transfer switch installed to isolate your home’s wiring from Kentucky Power’s electric system. Otherwise, you jeopardize the safety of utility workers.
Generator safety tips can be found on Kentucky Power’s website here.
More weather safety tips can be found on the Kentucky Power website here.
Tips for heating your home efficiently are available here.
Five low- and no-cost energy-saving cold weather tips for customers:
- Adjust the temperature in your home when no one is home or when everyone is asleep. Set thermostats as low as appropriate for staying healthy and comfortable. Lowering the temperature on your thermostat by just a couple of degrees can result in significant long-term savings.
- Replace your air filters to keep your HVAC system and thermostat(s) working well as you heat your home. Dirty air filters can restrict airflow, making your system work harder and less effective.
- Seal leaks to stop drafts. Air leaks can cause your home to lose 25% or more of the energy used to heat it. Doors are the number one culprit, so use door seals and door sweeps to stop cold air in its tracks. But don’t stop there; check keyholes, ceiling light fixtures, and fireplace mantels to see if you can spot other places your heat could be escaping and seal them accordingly.
- Use your curtains. Open your curtains and blinds during daylight hours when the sun is shining to naturally heat your home. Close your curtains and blinds when the sun goes down or on cloudy days to act as a barrier and prevent cold chills from cooling your home.
- Adjust the temperature of your water heater. After heating and cooling systems, water heaters are the second-highest source of energy usage in a home. Whether you use it or not, your water heater continually reheats water to a set temperature, 24/7. Lowering the temperature on your water heater by just a few degrees can save you a couple of dollars on your monthly energy bills.
Stay in the loop:
- Download our app to report outages and to receive information about outages in your area,KentuckyPower.com/app.
- Sign up for text alerts by logging into your account or by going to KentuckyPower.com/alerts.
