LEAVENWORTH – If the rain this fall was any prediction, this winter could be a doozy for heavy snow and ice. Here are a few ways to stay comfortable, protect water pipes, and prepare for possible of winter outages. Staying cozy while saving money:

If there is a concern about water pipes freezing:

These tips can help keep you and your family safe, as well as help PUD crews safely restore service as quickly as possible:

Turn off all but one light – on the porch or inside where it can be seen from the street – so you and PUD crews know when power is restored.

Never use fuel-burning devices, like gasoline-powered generators, gasoline-powered pressure washers, camp stoves and lanterns, or charcoal grills inside, or in any confined space, or within 10 feet of windows, doors or other air intakes. Using these items in your home can produce carbon monoxide, which can be deadly.

Wait 10 minutes after power is restored before turning on the heat to ease the load on the system – our old friend “cold-load pickup.”

DO NOT go near, touch or try to move any lines on the ground or trees tangled in them – stay far away!

If you plan to use a portable generator, make sure you plug appliances directly into the generator. Or, make sure your home is disconnected from the PUD’s electric system with a transfer switch installed by a licensed electrician.