Black Hills Energy Issues Important Safety Reminders 

Kearney, Nebraska — January 5, 2024 — Black Hills Energy is closely monitoring the hazardous weather outlook issued by the National Weather Service for a winter storm predicted to impact many of our central and western Nebraska customers early next week. To prepare for the anticipated snow accumulation, nearly 120 central and western Nebraska employees are ready to respond.

Updates, safety information and outage resources can be found at: www.blackhillsenergy.com/weather
Tips for conserving energy can be found at: www.blackhillsenergy.com/winter-ready. 

Safety Reminders
To prepare, Black Hills Energy is urging home safety in advance of the winter weather with the following guidelines for its natural gas customers. 

Natural Gas Safety:
Snow and ice buildup on your natural gas meter can create a safety hazard and even cut off the flow of natural gas to your heating equipment and other appliances. 

Please follow these guidelines for staying safe:

• Gently clear snow away by hand or with a broom. Do not use a shovel, ice pick or other sharp tools, as damage could result and make the situation worse.
• Keep snow blowers and shovels away from gas meters and other above-ground equipment.
• Carefully clear snow away from the outdoor vent on high-efficiency furnaces and gas water heaters. These appliances will not run safely and efficiently if the vents are blocked.
• Safely remove ice buildup from overhead eaves that could fall and damage gas meters below.
• Point out the meter and any other above-ground utility structures to anyone you hire for snow removal.
• Make sure the carbon monoxide detector in your home has fresh batteries and is functioning properly.  

For outage information in your area, stay connected with Black Hills Energy by logging on to www.blackhillsenergy.com or by following us on Facebook or Twitter. To receive outage notifications on your mobile device, please log into your Black Hills Energy account and opt in for notices.