Powerful Cold Front Threatens to Play Scrooge for Christmas
Thursday | December 24, 2020

A strong cold front will come through Virginia later today and into early Christmas morning, and it is not bearing any gifts.

Instead, forecasters caution the front could bring flooding rains, sustained winds of 30 mph and higher gusts that threaten to knock out power during the holiday. Nobody wants this, but we should all prepare for the possibility.

REC's crews are on standby to respond to any outages that might occur, and we urge member-owners to prepare now, as well.

Make sure you have flashlights and fresh batteries. The front will usher in much colder temperatures, so also gather extra blankets and additional layers of clothing in case they are needed. Make sure to charge all electronics such as cell phones.

While we all hope for no outages, staying prepared is the next best thing. For more tips on how to prepare for a possible outage, please check out our storm prep tips here.

Other steps you can take now:

  • Bookmark REC’s website to report an outage or to find the latest on restoration efforts. You also can sign up to receive Outage Text Alerts.
  • Remember that you can use your smart phone to report an outage online. To report your outage, click here. You also can report an outage in MyREC SmartHub.
  • If someone in your home requires electricity for a serious medical condition, identify an alternate location with power that you can rely on during an outage
REC Prepares for Storm
Tags

REC STORIES

With extreme cold temperatures expected this week, REC encourages members to remain prepared. Here are tips to staying safe and reducing the impact of...

PJM Cancels Transmission-Grid Warning

Sunday | January 25, 2026
UPDATE: PJM has canceled the transmission-level load curtailment warning for REC’s service area. At this time, REC is not required to implement any co...
During periods of extreme temperatures, the demand for electricity peaks. While REC’s local grid is performing as it should, the transmission grid ope...