Boise (670 KBOI News) – It’s about to get cold…like snow, ice and inversions cold. So Idaho Power is reminding you to get your home ready for winter outages.

Spokesman Brad Bowlin says while the average Idaho Power customer loses power for less than two hours a year, longer outages can happen, especially higher up in the mountains.

So he says you should start by plugging any drafts you might have before the snow starts falling.

“Things that folks can do in advance is to make sure that any leaks or gaps they might have around doors and windows are sealed,” said Bowlin.  “Anything you can do to avoid opening windows and doors, keeping those gaps sealed, that’s going to keep that heat in your house.”

He also says if you have a backup source of power, like a generator or a wood burning stove, make sure it’s properly ventilated. Never run a gas-powered generator inside, or even in your garage.

Click here for tips from Idaho Power on being prepared for winter outages.