“People, Pets, Plants and Pipes” has become the anthem this week with the arrival of the first freezing temperatures of 2025 and a forecasted wintery mix of sleet and rain for the Hill Country. Locals are urged to check on neighbors, bring pets and plants indoors and to wrap exposed water pipes.
The Pedernales Electric Cooperative issued a press release advising citizens to prepare for the cold weather by signing up for PEC emergency alerts and keeping contact information current by calling them at 888554-4732 where agents are available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. for updates.
Locals are advised to prepare their homes with weatherstripping and caulking to tightly seal windows and doors and to keep faucets on a slow drip to prevent pipes from freezing. If pipes do freeze, the company suggests homeowners turn off the main water supply to prevent further dam- age. If water systems are impacted, PEC advises catching dripping water in a clean container, sink or tub to be used later.
Members are instructed to keep their PEC account number handy to report outages by texting the word “outage” to 25022 from the mobile number associated with their account or by calling the outage reporting line at 888-883-3379.
Other useful tips include keeping cell phones and portable phone battery banks charged and ready. Members are also urged to build an emergency kit with items such as flashlights, batteries, bottled water, blankets and nonperishable foods. Mypec.com/ weather-preparation can be reviewed for a complete list of items.
PEC also suggests developing an emergency plan in the case of an extended outage and will share information about area warming centers when they’re established. The energy cooperative does not guarantee uninterrupted or continuous power and strongly encourages all members to have an emergency plan, including backup generation if needed.
To help mitigate high bills, PEC recommends setting thermostats to 68 degrees or lower and to keep them there.
For additional information about keeping energy bills low, schedule an Over-the-Phone Energy Assessment by calling 888-554-4732 to schedule an appointment. More savings tips are available at myPEC. com/savings.
