Cold conditions are expected across much of Georgia as we head into the weekend. We are encouraging members to stay safe and to conserve electricity when possible.

Things to do:

• Ensure your HVAC system is functioning properly and that filters are replaced regularly.

• Do your laundry and run your dishwasher today to be able to postpone non-essential uses of electricity until temperatures return to normal. (Water heaters use 14 percent of a home’s energy.)

• If you drive an electric vehicle, charge it during the middle of the day and delay charging during extreme weather conditions.

• Heat foods at the lowest possible setting and refrain from opening the oven door while baking.

• Set thermostats to 68 degrees or lower and adjust window units accordingly. (Warming and cooling the home accounts for 55 percent of residential energy use)

• Lower your thermostat at night and when you're away from home.

• Open blinds, drapes and curtains to let in warmth from the sun and close them at night to keep out the cold.

• Caulk or weather strip around windows, exterior doors and any gaps.

Take time to check your P's:

• Pipes: Insulate your pipes.

• Pets: Secure a warm space for your animals.

• People: Check in on friends and neighbors who may need assistance with these precautions.

• Plants: Protect plants that cannot be moved indoors.

• Place of residence: Keep your house safe from electrical fires. Remember to keep space heaters plugged directly into the wall and make sure anything burning can vent exhaust safely. Maintain a minimum distance of 3 feet between your space heaters and anything flammable.

Southern Rivers Energy is closely monitoring the weather this weekend. Our trucks are stocked and crews are prepared for any effect the cold temperatures may have on our electric system. We are as prepared as we can be, but we stress the importance of being prepared for yourself, as well.

To report an outage, please call our Outage Hotline: 1-866-244-4890

To view the real-time outage map, visit outage.southernriversenergy.com:82

You can also check for updates on our Facebook or at southernriversenergy.com

We're encouraging members to be aware of energy consumption, prioritize safety, make necessary preparations, and stay tuned for further updates.