Wednesday | January 15, 2025
All News

Arctic Front To Bring Freezing Temps

Updated: 01/20/25

Wharton County Electric Cooperative continues to prepare for severe winter weather, including sleet and snow predicted to fall overnight. 

Keep in mind that even the smallest amount of ice accumulation on power lines can result in power outages. Even the thinnest layer of ice adds significant weight, causing lines to sag, break, or even snap, especially if combined with strong winds. Ice accumulation on tree branches can cause them to break as well, and if they fall onto frozen power lines, power disruptions can happen. 

When ice accumulates on power lines in windy weather, the ice can build up on only one side of the power line, which results in “galloping.” Galloping can potentially damage the lines, cause power outages, and even cause cross-arms to break, bringing lines to the ground. When galloping causes the lines to touch, arcing or flashing can occur, and power may flicker or go out. 

Once galloping starts, there isn’t much that can be done until the winds decrease or the ice melts. 

If you encounter power lines that are swaying or bucking dangerously or have fallen to the ground, stay away! Assume all downed power lines are energized even if they appear not to be. Warn others to stay away and contact us or your local utility as soon as possible. These situations can be deadly! The best course of action is to steer clear and call for assistance.

WCEC is asking all members to prepare for the possibility of power outages throughout this weather event. If you have a generator, make sure it is in working order and know how to operate it safely. Never operate a generator indoors or in partially enclosed spaces, and do not connect a generator to your home's electrical system without a licensed electrician. 

If you are dependent on electricity for medical equipment or medication storage, please have a backup plan in place. 

Here are a few tips to help you stay warm and protect your home during a winter power outage: 

  • Dress warmly. Several layers of clothing provide better insulation than a single layer of heavier clothing.
  • Move to a single room, preferably one with few windows. Ideally, this room should be on the south side of the home for maximum heat gain in the daytime. The room should be shut off from the rest of the house and could be one with a fireplace, wood stove, or other alternate heat source.
  • If you use an alternate heat source, be sure and follow operating instructions. For example, if you use a kerosene heater, adequate ventilation is a must. All fuels should be stored outside of the home for safety reasons. Wood stoves and fireplaces should be maintained properly throughout the year to prevent problems when they are needed in an emergency.
  • A primary concern in winter is keeping water pipes from freezing. A small stream of water can be left on to prevent this. This is not a practical solution when water is supplied from a well. Insulating the water pipes is a more permanent method. See the section on extended outages and home shutdowns for information on how to drain the water pipes of your home.
  • In most rural areas, electricity is required to pump water into the home. Since water cannot be pumped during a power outage, keep an adequate supply of drinking water on hand at all times.
  • Consolidate your resources with neighbors. They might have heat and electricity in their homes. As in summer, people with health problems should be taken to a church, community agency, or other location where their needs can be met. 

Our Outage Center at MyWCEC.coop offers more tips on preparing for outages, outage safety, and our outage restoration process. There is also a live Outage Map. WCEC crews will be on standby as this weather system moves through our area. They will be ready to be dispatched as soon as it is safe to begin any restoration efforts if needed.   

In addition to keeping up to date with the weather, WCEC is also monitoring ERCOT predictions for the week. At this time, ERCOT is expecting adequate generation throughout this weather event, and there is no indication of rotating outages. As a reminder to our members, if ERCOT issues an emergency alert calling for rotating outages, we must comply. We will notify our members through social media and our website as quickly as possible.   Members of the public can visit ERCOT.com, download the ERCOT app, or sign up for ERCOT alerts at ERCOT.com/TXANS for updates on statewide grid conditions.  

To report an outage, call 979-543-6271. During large outages, phone lines can get busy or wait times may be longer than normal. If necessary, we may implement an automated outage-reporting system. To report an outage through this system, you will need the phone number connected to your account, your account number, or your meter number.

Rest assured that if outages occur, crews will be working to restore power as soon as it is safe to do so. If you are unable to get through to the co-op by calling 979-543-6271, updates from WCEC will also be available here: 

One final reminder: with extreme temperatures comes higher power use. Your heater will be working overtime to keep your home warm. If you are concerned about high usage and/or the cost of your next bill, we can help. Our SmartHub portal and app allow members to see their daily power use; our website offers ways to save at MyWCEC.coop/Save; and our CSRs are always ready to share tips at 979-543-6271.  

Stay safe, stay warm. WCEC will be here if you need us.