CPS ENERGY PREPARES FOR STORM EXPECTED TO BRING HIGH WINDS

Wind gusts exceeding 40 mph could bring down power lines and lead to outages

December 17, 2021 (SAN ANTONIO) – According to the National Weather Service, thunderstorms with rainfall, lightning, and high winds are expected in the CPS Energy service area this evening and into Saturday. The biggest threat in the forecast is high wind speeds with gusts that could exceed 40 miles per hour Saturday afternoon.

The weather combination can cause multiple challenges to reliable power, including damage to above-ground electrical equipment caused by lightning, tree limbs falling and hitting power lines, and power lines becoming entangled or coming down.

CPS Energy is monitoring the weather and crews are prepared to respond quickly and safely to any reports of power lines down and outages.

CPS Energy is asking customers to prepare by activating their personal emergency plans, especially if they rely on medical equipment. If an outage occurs, they may want to consider relocating to another location if needed.

Some other severe weather tips include:

• Keep all mobile devices, battery-powered LED lights, flashlights, batteries, and other essential items charged and ready.
• Please stay away from downed power lines and report them to CPS Energy at 210-353-HELP (4357). Do NOT attempt to move or drive over the lines. Treat them as if they are live. Power lines may still have electricity running through them even in an outage. 
• Keep the refrigerator door closed as much as possible. Refrigerated food should be safe for up to 4 hours. Visit the U.S. Food & Drug Administration website to learn how to keep food safe at fda.gov.
• If neighbors have power, customers should check their breakers. Tripped breakers account for about 20% of our service calls.
• For more information on power restoration, watch this video.

Customers are advised to always make safety a priority. In the aftermath of a storm, generators are invaluable, but it is critical to use them safely. Running a generator improperly can be harmful and even deadly. Generator owners should follow the user manual to ensure the generator is being operated properly and to ensure the safety of crews responding to an outage.

Customers can stay informed of outages by visiting CPS Energy’s interactive Outage Map. Additionally, per State law, drivers are reminded to please be safe and move over and slow down around crews working to restore power to ensure everyone’s safety.

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