CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas, (Sept. 22, 2005) – With Hurricane Rita threatening the Texas Gulf Coast, AEP Texas offers the following storm preparation and safety tips:

• During and immediately after the storm, customers are asked to call the AEP Customer Solution Center only to report downed power lines and other situations that could pose a safety threat. 
• To report a fallen power line or utility pole, call 1-866-223-8508. 
  All power lines should be considered energized and dangerous.  Although a downed line may look harmless, it could be carrying electricity. Don’t touch anything in contact with the line, such as trees, fences or puddles of water. Because of the likelihood that the storm will cause many lines to fall, customers are asked to keep their children and pets inside during and after the storm.
• Unplug or turn off washers, dryers and other major appliances and electronic equipment like televisions, VCRs and computers. Turn them on one at a time when power is restored. If several large appliances start up at once when power is restored, they may overload your home’s electric circuits.
• If you use a portable generator, DO NOT plug the generator into your circuit box. Portable generators “back-feed” electricity up the line and risk the lives of repair workers and the public. Plug appliances directly into the generator.
• Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible to keep cold air inside. Check out sources of ice or dry ice, if needed. Food should stay frozen for 36 to 48 hours in a fully loaded freezer, 24 hours in a half-full freezer – if you keep the door closed.
  Be extremely careful when using any alternate forms of heating, cooling, cooking and lighting.
• Stay tuned to local news media for updates on the storm situation and recovery progress. Updates also will be posted on aeptexas.com.

AEP Texas, a unit of American Electric Power, delivers electricity to 850,000 homes, businesses and industries in south and west Texas. AEP Texas provides regulated energy delivery service to consumers, regardless of which Retail Electric Provider they choose. The region headquarters is in Corpus Christi.