Cold temperatures will dominate the area this week. PPL Electric will be ready to respond to any outages that may occur, but urges customers to always be prepared for emergencies.

Customers should create, and maintain, an emergency kit with food, water, medication, and any pet supplies needed.

Some things you can do:

• Cover drafty windows. Roll up a towel or blanket for the bottom of drafty exterior doors. If possible, add caulking or weather stripping to seal air leaks around doors and windows.

• Make sure that rugs, drapes and furniture are not blocking airflow to and from heating registers, radiators or baseboard heaters. Rooms will have better circulation and it allows your system to work as intended, using less energy.

• Bundle up with extra blankets or clothes. You can save up to 1% in heating costs for every degree you dial back your thermostat, according to the Department of Energy.

• Keep your fireplace damper closed unless a fire is burning. Having the damper open is like having a window wide open as it allows warm air to escape through the chimney.

• Allowing the sun to shine in through your windows during the day can keep your home warmer, which means using less energy. When the sun goes down, be sure to close the drapes to reduce heat loss through windows.

• Use space heaters sparingly, and only when needed. Do not plug space heaters into extension cords or power strips. Be sure to give them plenty of space and keep them on a level surface away from flammable objects and foot traffic. Don’t leave a space heater unattended while in use.

• Inspect electric blankets and heating pads before each use to ensure there is no damage. Do not place other objects or blankets on top of electric blankets while in use. Don’t tuck an electric blanket into the mattress and never leave these devices unattended or use them while you are sleeping.

• Read and follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for generators. This includes making sure you use the proper fuel for the generator and only add fuel when the generator is cool. Make sure to inspect the generator before each use to ensure it’s in good working order. Generators should never be used in an enclosed area or placed inside a home or business. Be sure to also keep them away from windows and vents that could allow carbon monoxide to sneak inside. Even though you will be using the generator outside, make sure that your home has battery-operated carbon monoxide detectors that are in good, working condition.

PPL Electric offers many no-cost and low-cost ways to save on your electric bill. Visit pplelectric.com/billhelp.

If you lose power, please report your outage online at pplelectric.com or text “Outage” to TXTPPL (898775).

Inside

• Protect pipes from freezing.

• Caulk and weatherstrip doors and windowsills to keep cold air out. Install storm windows or cover windows with plastic from the inside to provide an extra layer of insulation to keep cold air out.

• Make sure you have enough heating fuel on hand.

• Stay indoors and wear warm clothes. Layers of loosefitting, lightweight, warm clothing will keep you warmer than a bulky sweater. If you feel too warm, remove layers to avoid sweating; if you feel chilled, add layers.

• Check on relatives, neighbors, and friends, particularly if they are elderly or if they live alone.

Outside

If you must go outside, protect yourself from winter storm hazards:

• Wear layered clothing, mittens or gloves, and a hat. Outer garments should be tightly woven and water repellent. Mittens or gloves and a hat will prevent the loss of body heat.

• Cover your mouth to protect your lungs from severely cold air. Avoid taking deep breaths; minimize talking.

• Watch for signs of hypothermia and frostbite.

• Keep dry. Change wet clothing frequently to prevent a loss of body heat. Wet clothing loses much of its insulating value and transmits heat rapidly away from the body.

• Stretch before you go out. If you go out to shovel snow, do a few stretching exercises to warm up your body. This will reduce your chances of muscle injury.

• Avoid overexertion, such as shoveling heavy snow, pushing a vehicle, or walking in deep snow. The strain from the cold and the hard labor may cause a heart attack. Sweating could lead to a chill and hypothermia.