Black Hills : Energy Wants You To Enjoy A Warm, Safe Winter in Nebraska

LINCOLN, Neb., - Nov. 18, 2016 - With winter weather arriving in Nebraska, Black Hills Energy has prepared for winter and is providing an important safety message to make sure its customers are prepared as well.

'Like a fireman when the bell rings, Black Hills Energy's winter emergency plans are in place, and our employees are ready to respond quickly and effectively when called upon,' said Jeff Sylvester, vice president for Black Hills Energy's Nebraska gas operations. 'Safe, reliable service is always our priority,' he said. 'We offer home safety tips and suggestions at www.blackhillsenergy.com to help our customers prepare as well.'

A stockpile of blankets, flashlights and fresh batteries (including a fully charged cellphone) are a good start, Sylvester said. 'We all recently set our clocks back an hour, and it's a good time to change the batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. It is a quick and easy process and could be a life-saver.

'Natural gas is a clean, safe, reliable source of energy for heating more than 70 million homes in the United States,' Sylvester said. 'You schedule regular maintenance on a car for efficient performance, safe operation and longer life. In the same way, it's important to get an annual furnace inspection and tune-up to ensure that your heating equipment is running efficiently and safely venting the carbon monoxide created in the combustion process.'

Carbon monoxide is a colorless and odorless byproduct of the incomplete burning of fuels including wood, gasoline, charcoal and natural gas.

Signs of a potential carbon monoxide leak can include, but are not limited to, flu-like symptoms - a scratchy throat, runny nose, headache, drowsiness or nausea. Other indicators could include frosted windows due to excessive humidity, or a draft from the front of the furnace when it is not turned on.

If you think carbon monoxide is present, leave the premises immediately and call 911 and Black Hills Energy's emergency service line, 800-694-8989, from a nearby location.

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