NV Energy prepares for storm heading to Lake Tahoe and offers helpful tips

LAKE TAHOE, Nev. - The incoming winter storm will not only bring with it heavy snow but also wind with gusts up to 115 mph over the crest of the Sierra.

"Safety is our top priorty," said NV Energy Director of Delivery Operations, Brian Costello. He said during these storms there is a concern for both public and staff safety with downed power lines.

NV Energy supplied electricity to the Nevada side of the Lake Tahoe Basin and to the Truckee Donner PUD. Their power lines go over the Mt. Rose Highway into Incline Village and over Kingsbury Grade into the South Shore.

The utility company has staff on duty 24-hours-a-day, 365 days a year including holidays, but with the pending storm, Costello said they have additional personnel on call.

They spent the summer creating a safer environment in the area with grid-hardening efforts and vegetation management. Their 10,000 power poles in the Sierra have all been inspected, and if corrective measures were neede they have all been completed, said Costello.

They tightened, replaced and took in the slag on power lines and removed trees and brush that could catch fire should there be a downed power line.

"We went from pole to pole," said Costello of their work this summer.

In the case of an emergency, power outage or downed power line, Costello offered these tips from NV Energy:

If you find a downed line, do not touch it. If in your car, stay inside and call 911.

People on life support should have a plan in the case of power outages.

Learn how to use an emergency or portable generator prior to needing it. Understand the rules and keep it maintained.

Learn how to manually release your electric garage door.

Food in the refrigerator is good for two days if the door is not opened.

Keep the phone and other necessary items charged.

If you have an outage, call 775.834.444 to report it and receive information on the outage.

NV Energy has excellent tools on its website for customers, especially during an outage. Each customer should visit "My Account" and sign up for automatic notifications. They will get a text, voice message and/or email to notify them of an outage, restoral information, and another notification when power is restored. Their website is tied to Smart Meters and available to all customers.