You could be in Dallas preparing for another Cowboys loss, or maybe in Waco checking out those TV star silos, or perhaps you're just at your camp on the upper Texas Coast, it doesn't matter where you are in Texas, nobody likes it when their power goes out.

In many cases, power outages in Texas are caused by extreme weather. We almost expect the "lights to go out" during tropical weather events, strong thunderstorms, or the occasional spate of winter weather with accumulations of ice and snow. But believe it or not, those big storms or icy conditions are not the most common reason that people lose their power service.

The most common reason for someone like you or me to be sitting in the dark is "we didn't pay the bill". For many Texas families, the choice to pay for power or spend money on food is a monthly conundrum. But what if you find yourself in arrears with your hometown power company and the temperature outside is either extremely cold or in the case of Texas' summertime, oppressively hot?

In cases where temperatures are below freezing in winter or heat advisories have been posted during summer having electrical service becomes less of a "luxury" and more of a life-saving necessity. That leaves utilities in a bit of a pickle. Sure, they need to get paid for their services. But no, they don't need to put Texans in harm's way because of economic reasons either.

This is where Texas' Public Utility Commission has stepped in and clarified what utilities can and can't do in regard to service interruptions during times of extreme weather. There are quite a few stipulations about when and if service can be interrupted, if you'd like to review the entire list, you can see that here.

In that ruling by the PUC, the following guidelines for utilities were adopted in regard to the disconnection of service during periods of extreme cold:

Disconnection during extreme weather. A REP having disconnection authority under the provisions of subsection (b) of this section must not authorize a disconnection for nonpayment of electric service for any customer in a county in which an extreme weather emergency occurs.

A REP must offer residential customers a deferred payment plan upon request by the customer that complies with the requirements of §25.480 of this title (relating to Bill Payment and Adjustments) for bills that become due during the weather emergency.

The term "extreme weather emergency" means a day when:

(A) the previous day's highest temperature did not exceed 32 degrees Fahrenheit, and the temperature is predicted to remain at or below that level for the next 24 hours

anywhere in the county, according to the nearest National Weather Service (NWS)

reports; or

(B) the NWS issues a heat advisory for a county, or when such advisory has been issued on any one of the preceding two calendar days in a county.

A TDU must notify the commission of an extreme weather emergency in a method prescribed by the commission, on each day that the TDU has determined that an extreme weather emergency has been issued for a county in its service area.

Now we should note that the current cold snap Texas is experiencing would not meet the criteria for blocking service interruptions. The morning temperatures are dropping below freezing in many parts of the state but the afternoon temperatures are rising well above the freezing mark.

Communication is always the key in any concerning situation. Every utility that serves Texas customers has some kind of plan in place to help those who are having difficulties covering their bills. In many cases service interruptions can be avoided simply by contacting your power company, explaining your situation, and then setting up a payment plan.

If you are concerned about colder weather and when Texas will face its next round of freezing or near-freezing temperatures that will likely come next week, December 11th, 12th, and 13th all have forecast low temperatures that are at or near the freezing mark but the afternoon high temperatures will rise comfortably into the 60s.

Stay warm and be safe with those fireplaces and space heaters.