Our area got hit with some serious winter weather over the weekend, and we are still dealing with extreme cold and hazardous conditions. Our teams are watching closely, and we are ready to go if outages occur.

Please read through the information below to help keep you and your family safe, and to learn what you can do to help keep rates affordable during the extreme cold.

Propane: Don’t run out!

You may be using propane a lot faster than usual due to the cold. It takes significantly more fuel to combat this weather, even if you turn your thermostat to a lower setting.

If you are on will-call delivery, please check your tank more frequently than you normally would. Remember to call us and schedule a delivery when it reaches 30% capacity.

If you are on keep-full (automatic) delivery, make sure to keep your account current. Your prior bills must be paid and up-to-date to continue receiving automatic deliveries.

Natural Gas: Transport Critical Days

Due to extreme demand, our natural gas supplier has issued “Transport Critical Days,” through the end of January. This means that all natural gas purchased during this time will cost more than usual.

As a not-for-profit cooperative, our rates reflect the costs we pay for the services we provide you. This means that we never charge extra to make more profit, but it also means that when our costs increase, our members’ costs increase too.  

Help us keep costs down for all natural gas members by conserving during these Transport Critical Days. While conserving will not change the rates, it will help us purchase less natural gas while the costs are so high. The less we have to purchase during this time, the less impact it has on our members.  

Electric: Peak Alerts and Conservation

When extreme weather leads to unusually high energy use, you may hear about “peak alerts” or “peak demand.” A “peak alert” occurs when a utility provider is close to demanding more electric power than they have ever used before. When demand reaches a new peak, it also sets a new, higher price than electricity. We expect to multiple peak alerts to come our way through the end of the month.

Now more than ever, it is important for us all to try and safely conserve power during times when demand is high – not just to curb rising costs, but also to help avoid the need for rolling blackouts.

Our region’s grid operator, PJM, warns that demand will reach historic highs during the upcoming storm, which strains the grid and increases the risk of outages and blackouts. While we have plenty of energy for our members, we rely on the grid to get it to you. This means that shortages in other states could lead to blackouts for our members. You can learn more about this complicated issue on our Energy Policy Resources page. 

If you are a part of our Cool Returns program, please be aware that load control is likely over the coming days. We are so thankful for your participation – you truly make a difference and help keep rates in check for all Consolidated members!

Outage Reporting

• Make a report on your Consolidated SmartHub account. 
• Call our 24-hour outage hotline: 866-567-2753 (please call using the phone number linked to your account – our computer system will automatically register your outage) 
• Sign up for outage texting to report outages via text message. 
• Learn more about outage reporting. 

Outage Tracking

• Sign up for Outage Alerts to receive text message updates about outages in your area.
• Use our Outage Map to see the impact of an outage across our territory and track our restoration progress.

Outage Preparation

• Do you have any medical equipment or treatments that require electricity or refrigeration? Make a plan with your doctor or pharmacist to ensure that you know how to stay safe when a power outage occurs. 
• Maintain an emergency kit with necessary items like non-perishable food, water, flashlights, batteries, a first-aid kit, etc. 
• Make sure you have blankets and warm clothing easily accessible. 
• Take time to charge important devices like phones, laptops, and portable batteries before the bad weather hits.
• Ensure that all of your sensitive electronics are protected from power surges. Remember that newer appliances often include computer elements and will need surge protection. Read this article to learn more about the importance of surge protectors and how to pick the surge protectors that best suit your needs. 
• Remember to include your pets in your preparations! 

Outage Safety

• Never approach a downed powerline, even if it appears to be de-energized. Lines can become re-energized as restoration efforts progress. If you see a downed line, call us and 911 right away.
• Do not try to remove any debris from a powerline, even if you think it may be impacting your service. Without the proper training, equipment, and safety gear, it is extremely dangerous to go near a powerline.
• During the restoration process, sometimes power comes back on in spikes that can damage electronics. Unplug all electronics and heat-producing appliances when an outage occurs.

Generator Safety

• Read your manual for important safety information that is unique to your generator.
• Before starting your generator, make sure your home is equipped with battery-backup carbon monoxide detectors, and test them to ensure they are working properly.
• Never operate your generator inside your home, garage, barn, porch, or any other enclosed or partially enclosed space. Keep it at least 25 feet away and make sure the exhaust is directed away from windows, doors, and vents.
  • Never plug your generator into a wall outlet to try and power your home – this can send electricity down de-energized lines, putting line workers in serious danger.

Follow this link for more outage safety and preparation tips.