CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas, (Dec. 30, 2020) – As winter weather approaches the west Texas areas of the AEP Texas service territory, electric customers on life support systems are reminded to make arrangements now in case of a prolonged power outage.

“We understand the special needs of customers who are on life support systems or who need uninterrupted electric service for health reasons,” said Greg Blair, AEP Texas manager of External Affairs and Customer Service. “However, we have no control over what Mother Nature will decide to do during the course of a storm.”

Blair advises customers with special needs to make arrangements to evacuate well in advance of an approaching storm to avoid power interruption.

“Once a storm passes and our restoration efforts begin, we will make every effort to get the lights back on as soon as possible,” said Blair. “We will communicate through the media, our website and call center about restoration progress.”

AEP Texas offers the following suggestions for actions to take during and following the storm. 

• During and immediately after the storm, customers are asked to call the AEP Customer Solution Center only to report downed power lines and other situations that could pose a safety threat.To report a fallen power line or utility pole, call 1-866-223-8508.

• All power lines should be considered energized and dangerous.Although a downed line may look harmless, it could be carrying electricity. Don’t touch anything in contact with the line, such as trees, fences or puddles of water. Because of the likelihood that the storm will cause many lines to fall, customers are asked to keep their children and pets inside during and after the storm.

• Unplug or turn off washers, dryers and other major appliances and electronic equipment like televisions, VCRs and computers. Turn them on one at a time when power is restored. If several large appliances start up at once when power is restored, they may overload your home’s electric circuits.

• If you use a portable generator, DO NOT plug the generator into your circuit box. Portable generators “back-feed” electricity up the line and risk the lives of repair workers and the public. Plug appliances directly into the generator.Always follow the manufacturer’s directions regarding where to locate a generator.

• Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible to keep cold air inside. Check out sources of ice or dry ice, if needed. Food should stay frozen for 36 to 48 hours in a fully loaded freezer, 24 hours in a half-full freezer -- if you keep the door closed.

• Be extremely careful when using any alternate forms of heating, cooling, cooking and lighting.

• Stay tuned to local news media for updates on the storm situation and recovery progress. Updates also will be posted on www.aeptexas.com.

   

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  AEP Texas, headquartered in Corpus Christi, is delivers electricity to more than one million electric customers in the deregulated Texas marketplace. As an energy delivery company, AEP Texas delivers electricity safely and reliably to homes, businesses and industries across its nearly 100,000-square-mile service territory in south and west Texas. AEP Texas also maintains and repairs its lines, collects data from advanced meters, and handles service connections and disconnections as directed by the Retail Electric Providers (REPs) selling electricity in the area.