Winter energy guide provided by CenterPoint

DAYTON — CenterPoint Energy wants to remind customers there’s no time like the present to check out its newly launched “Winter Energy Guide,” a comprehensive online resource hub that helps customers throughout the heating season.

The guide features practical and important safety, energy savings and bill management tips to help the public stay safe and warm throughout the holiday and winter season. CenterPoint has a cold weather plan in place to respond quickly to potential impacts this winter, and the company encourages customers to use this helpful resource to create their own cold weather plans so that they’re prepared for the colder weather ahead.

The winter energy guide includes several of the tips outlined below to help customers:

Winter safety kit — CenterPoint encourages customers to prepare for winter weather by having an emergency winter supply kit:

• Have a supply of water and non-perishable food ready. At least one gallon, per person per day, of water for an emergency situation is needed. Don’t forget to also have an emergency supply of food and water for your pets.

• Maintain a first aid kit: A first aid kit should include bandages, antiseptics, gloves and medication, including prescription medicines.

• Keep a supply of cold weather supplies on hand: Have at least one blanket per person and hand warmers on hand, in addition to warm coats, scares and gloves.

• Make sure to have a supply of emergency supplies: Batteries, including batteries to charge electronics, flashlights and a portable radio can help them stay safe and be prepared for potential service outages.

Tips, tools and programs to save energy and money — CenterPoint offers various tips, tools and programs to help customers manage their bills and save energy.

• Manage monthly heating bill. Customers who may be facing financial hardship are encouraged to call CenterPoint to set up a payment plan and for referral to resources for energy assistance.

• Track energy usage. By managing their accounts online, customers can access an interactive chart that displays their energy usage trends and gives them insights into ways to save energy.

• Take easy actions to reduce energy use. CenterPoint offers a variety of free energy-saving tips that can make a difference in the amount of energy used such as adjusting thermostats, opening blinds during the daytime to take advantage of the sun’s warmth and sealing air leaks.

Safety tips — CenterPoint provides these vital tips for customers to stay safe throughout the winter:

• Use space heaters safely. Make sure your space heater has an automatic shut-off, and keep children, pets and all items at least three feet away from it. A space heater that uses natural gas, propane or wood should be vented to the outside. Stoves and ovens should never be used for space heating.

• Test your carbon monoxide (CO) and smoke alarms to make sure they work properly. Change batteries regularly. Alarms don’t last forever, so replace them according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

• Know the signs of CO poisoning. Early symptoms such as headache and fatigue are similar to the flu, but without a fever. Continued CO exposure can lead to more severe headaches, dizziness, nausea, difficulty thinking clearly and fainting. If everyone in a household is experiencing these symptoms, it could be CO poisoning. If you suspect you could have CO poisoning, leave the area immediately, get fresh air and call 911.

• Immediately report a suspected natural gas leak. If you smell the “rotten egg” odor of natural gas, immediately leave on foot, go to a safe location and call both 911 and CenterPoint Energy at 800-296-9815. Don’t use electric switches and outlets, phones (including cell phones), drive or start a car inside or close to the location or do anything that could cause a spark.

To learn more about the Winter Energy Guide and to receive more important tips, visit CenterPointEnergy.com/ReadyforWinter.

As the only investor-owned electric and gas utility based in Texas, CenterPoint Energy, Inc. (NYSE: CNP) is an energy delivery company with electric transmission and distribution, power generation and natural gas distribution operations that serve more than seven million metered customers in Indiana, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Ohio and Texas. With approximately 9,000 employees, CenterPoint Energy and its predecessor companies have been in business for more than 150 years. For more information, visit CenterPointEnergy.com.