As Ohio endures a stretch of below-freezing temperatures, we’re sharing some tips to help you stay warm, safe and informed.
PJM, the electric transmission grid operator for Ohio, 12 other states and the District of Columbia, has issued a cold weather alert through Thursday, Jan. 23, for frigid temperatures across several states. While PJM is not projecting generation capacity shortages that would limit customer usage, AEP Ohio always encourages customers to use energy wisely.
Be Prepared at Home and on the Road
Make sure you have a well-stocked emergency kit at home and in your vehicle. Don’t forget supplies and a plan for your pets. Check on elderly neighbors and loved ones to ensure they have a plan.
When driving, check your local weather and traffic reports before heading out. Keep your gas tank as full as possible and increase your following distance if roads are snow-covered or icy. Vehicle accidents are a top cause of power outages and we want you to arrive at your destination safely.
Prevent Home Heating Fires
Home heating is the second leading cause of home fires, according to the U.S. Fire Administration. Never use an oven or gas stove to heat your home. Always plug space heaters directly into an outlet and make sure the cord isn’t damaged or frayed. Turn off space heaters when leaving a room or going to sleep.
If You Lose Power
Know that our crews will work as quickly as is safely possible to restore power if an outage occurs. Keep freezers and refrigerators closed and unplug major appliances to protect them when power comes back on. Let us know if you’re using a generator — this protects you and our lineworkers as they restore power. Never operate lanterns, heaters or fuel-fired stoves without proper ventilation.
Use Energy Efficiently
Extreme winter temperatures can send your furnace into overdrive — causing your energy usage and electric bill to go up, even if your thermostat setting remains the same. Here are a few free and low-cost things you can do to help save energy and money:
- Lower your thermostat when you’re away and overnight while you’re sleeping. We recommend setting the temperature to 68 or whatever is safe and comfortable for your household.
- Run your ceiling fans clockwise — this pushes warm air down and gives your furnace a break.
- Let the sun in. Open curtains or blinds on windows receiving direct sunlight. Close curtains or blinds tightly at night or on cloudy days to reduce heat loss.
- Check your furnace filter, especially if it’s been more than 90 days since you replaced it. A new, clean filter helps your furnace run as efficiently as possible.
Minimize Bill Surprises
You can also prepare for and potentially reduce seasonal changes to your monthly electric bill.
- Enroll in our AMP* (Average Monthly Payment) plan to even out payments throughout the year to account for seasonal spikes in usage. Bills adjust on a 12-month rolling average and change only slightly each month, making the amount due more predictable.
- Monitor your energy usage with Energy Dashboard. You can compare your daily and month-to-month electric usage, see your highest usage days, sign up for high bill alerts and get personalized savings tips.
*AMP is only applicable to AEP Ohio charges. If you participate in Ohio Choice and want to enroll in a budget plan for generation charges, please contact your generation provider.
Thanks for making us smarter about our energy usage.
I am so confident in your workers. I hope we do not lose power but if we do, I know you will do your best.
I just want to say thank you for all the information about the cold weather. I feel a lot better with tips to stay safe. And I also just want to say thank you AEP for the monthly plan that helps my bill stay predictable. And please tell all the linemen I said thank you and don’t forget all the people behind the scenes there I do thank them as well
This was good information
Just want to let you know that I have generator at my home on the north side of the hosue. The address is: 1XXX BXXXX Ct., Delaware, OH 43015.
Thanks for letting us know, June! Your account has been updated with that information. We’ve also redacted your address in your comment.