As winter sets in and the weather grows colder in many parts of the United States, EEI and our member companies are committed to helping you and your family stay safe and warm, while also saving energy.

Winter Safety Tips 

• Prepare now for potential winter storms by making sure your Emergency Outage Kit is stocked with food, water, medication, batteries, and other items of necessity. It also is important that your family’s phone number(s) and email address(es) are current with your local electric company. This will help you receive updated information should a power outage occur during a winter storm.
• Keep space heaters away from flammable objects and curtains, and always turn them off before leaving your home.
• Be careful on snowy or icy walkways and be sure to check on elderly or handicapped neighbors.
• Check the latest traffic conditions and use major streets or highways when possible as these roadways will be cleared first. Should a power outage occur, report it immediately to your local electric company. Use flashlights (such as LED flashlights that can be very bright) instead of candles to reduce the risk of fire.
• Never plug extension cords into one another, do not overload them, and make sure you check to see if they are rated for indoor or outdoor use.
• Never leave electrical holiday decorations on while sleeping or away from home. Remove and store the decorations after the holidays.

Winter Energy Efficiency Tips

• Open your blinds during the day to allow sunlight to naturally heat your house. Close them when the sun goes down.
• Cover your windows at night with drapes or curtains.
• When your fireplace is not in use, close the dampers. Open dampers allow the natural draft of chimneys to pull warm air out of your house during the winter.
• Weatherize your home. Caulk and weather strip doors and windows that may leak air. 
• Add insulation if needed, especially in your attic and the exterior and basement walls or crawl spaces in your home. In the winter, up to 30 percent of your home’s heat can escape through low-efficiency windows. You can attach a heavy-duty, clear plastic sheet on a frame or tape clear plastic film to the inside of your window frames during the winter months. Make sure the plastic is sealed tightly to the frame to reduce leaks.
• Your bathroom fans and oven hood fans are often overlooked sources of heat loss in the winter. Use your fans sparingly (only as much as you need for the bathroom or cooking) and then keep them turned off. The fans pull away the warm air from your home.