If you notice that a community neighborhood entry monument holiday string of lights is not lighting after dark, please reach out to [email protected] and we will cross-reference your report with our existing work orders to make sure our electrician checks it out.  Please give a specific location to the problem you see (i.e. SE Corner of Stoneglen and Pine Manor - Greenmoor Monument).  

Please keep an eye on the goings-on in your area, keep your porch, yard, and driveway lights on during the hours of darkness, and if needed, call the police at 719-444-7000 or report a crime online at https://cspd.coloradosprings.gov/content/report-crime-online.

You can also see what  police/fire activity is reported in your area by visiting the Colorado Springs Police Department Calls for Service update at http://myneighborhoodupdate.net/

​When the National Weather Service  forecasts several inches of snow and frigid temperatures, you can take these steps now to prepare for the storm and use energy wisely. This will help ensure reliable power supply for the area and help lower your bill.

Before the storm 

• Create an emergency kit with water, food, first-aid supplies and more. 
• Create/update an emergency plan with current emergency contact information. 
• Stay informed by following Colorado Springs Utilities (CSU) on Facebook and Twitter. 
• If you do experience an outage, report and track it on their outage map.
  
• You can also call   Colorado Springs Utilities ​(719) 448-4800 to report an outage. 

Act now to save later  

• Set your thermostat no higher than 68 degrees. Turn it down a few more degrees when sleeping or away from your home for more than eight hours.  
• Check your furnace filter, replace if dirty. A clean filter allows your furnace to run more efficiently.  
• Cover drafty windows with plastic film or use insulated drapes or shades. 
• Refrain from using large appliances like washers and dishwashers unless necessary on extra cold days. When needed, only wash full loads and use the cold setting on your clothes washer. 
• Open blinds on all south-facing windows to let the sun naturally heat your home. 
• Turn off lights and electronics when not in use.
• Leave your faucet dripping and open cabinet doors around plumbing to allow warm air in and protect pipes from freezing.  

 Learn more at the CSU storm center at https://www.csu.org/Pages/StormCenter.aspx

Although trees remain dormant during the winter, they are not immune to cold and dry conditions. Trees experience the stress of harsh winter weather and it’s usually a lack of water that causes the most damage. Colorado Springs only received 1.41 inches of rain the past 3 months and heading into the winter with dry roots can mean major trouble for your trees in the spring. The result of long, dry periods during fall and winter is injury or death to parts of the tree's root system.

​Affected trees may appear perfectly normal and resume growth in the spring using stored food energy. Established trees should be watered two times a month September and October and once a month from November to March. Trees that don't get enough water can suffer stress and drought injury. Trees may be weakened and all or parts may die in late spring or summer when temperatures rise. The signs of drought stress often don't show up until the heat of the following summer, which then makes trees more susceptible to pests and disease.  
 
Important factors to consider when watering trees: 
-Newly planted trees that have been planted within the last 3 years are more susceptible to damage from drought conditions and need to be watered more frequently than established trees. Water them to a depth of 24 inches three times a month in the fall and twice a month in the winter. 
-Evergreen trees lose water through their needles in the dry winter air. They need more stored-up water going into the winter season to make up for that. Cold, dry winds can strip water from evergreens faster than their roots can absorb it. That is why it is especially important to provide enough water in the fall and during dry spells in the winter. 
 -Even though they lose their leaves, deciduous trees should also not get too dry in the fall and winter. Water acts as an insulator for both the tree and soil. Soil that stays moist will be warmer. Likewise, plant cells that are plump with water will be less susceptible to damage from the cold. Water deciduous trees to a depth of 24 inches twice a month during the fall and once a month in the winter. 
-When watering any tree, remember to apply water out to the edge of the tree’s canopy drip line. Most established trees have a root spread equal to their height and beyond. Water deeply and avoid spraying foliage. Watering to the right depth depends on your specific soils, so you will want to measure how much water it takes your soils to reach 24 inches deep.