The people behind the power: Ready for winter’s worst

Winter in our region can be unpredictable. Snow, ice, wind, and bitter cold can strike anytime, putting the electric grid to the test. No matter the weather, providing reliable, low-cost power you can count on is at the heart of everything we do. It shapes our planning, guides our investments, and drives the dedication of our people to keep electricity flowing.

How we prepare for winter weather
Our teams follow proven cold-weather readiness plans based on industry standards and lessons learned from past events. Here’s how we stay prepared:

• Critical equipment checks: We regularly inspect generating units and substations and maintain equipment for peak performance.
• Supply and staffing readiness: Our crews remain ready and essential materials, such as transformers and line hardware, are stocked for immediate use.
• Alert levels and coordination: We track forecasts and alert levels closely so we can deploy resources and respond as soon as conditions allow.

These measures ensure we can deliver power and restore service quickly and safely.

Tips for customers to be winter ready
We know winter storms can be stressful. Here are a few ways to stay safe:

• Prepare a winter storm kit: Include flashlights, batteries, non-perishable food, water, first aid supplies, heating fuel, medicines, baby items, and pet supplies.
• Stay warm: Dress in layers and keep extra blankets handy.
• Plan ahead: Keep your devices charged and view our outage map for real-time updates.
• Steer clear: Stay far away from downed power lines and never try to remove them yourself. Immediately contact us or call 911. 

Responding when it matters
From winter ice storms to extreme summer weather events, our crews have restored power in some of Mother Nature’s toughest conditions, working around the clock to bring electric service back safely and efficiently.

When called to action, the work can be grueling, the hours long, and the conditions difficult—but our people push through, doing what it takes to bring light and comfort back to your homes and businesses.

“When winter storms hit, our crews know what’s at stake,” said Area Manager Jeremy Rham. “We plan ahead so we can respond quickly and safely because keeping the lights and heat on for our customers is always our top priority. If there's an outage, our crews want to stay out there until the last person has their power restored. It takes an all-day everyday commitment to bring our communities reliable power.”

Watch Jeremy and our team share what it takes to keep power flowing during extreme weather. 

Winter storms are tough, but so are we. By planning ahead and working together, we can keep our communities safe and powered through any season.

For more tips and updates, visit our Outages and Safety webpage.