With frigid temperatures expected this weekend in Connecticut, Eversource is carefully monitoring its electric and gas systems, and is ready to respond to any problems that may arise. As the electric and natural gas supplier schedules crews to work all shifts, employees are available to assist customers 24/7.Eversource.com. (Town of Newtown officials included that phone number among a list of others they encouraged residents to have handy this weekend, when they issued a press release Friday morning concerning the impending weather.)

"Extreme cold can put a strain on the equipment that delivers electricity and natural gas to customers, so we'll be keeping a particularly close eye on it this weekend," said Peter Clarke, senior vice president of emergency preparedness for the utility. "Over the past several years, we have been adding new, more reliable pipes to our gas distribution system and have made significant upgrades to the electric system so it can better withstand these extreme weather conditions."

While there is a reliable flow of natural gas available for Eversource customers through the pipeline, the company also has an abundant supply of liquefied natural gas as backup to meet any increased demand.

Eversource is sharing the following tips it gives to its employees, which the public may also find helpful during the frigid weather:

*Wear wool or polyester blends that insulate and also allow sweat to evaporate;

*Protect your feet, hands, head and face, which are the most difficult parts of the body to keep warm. Almost half of a body's heat can be lost through the head, so it's important to cover it up.

*Listen to your body. If you become fatigued while working outside in the cold, your body loses its ability to retain heat, causing rapid cooling leading to hypothermia or frostbite.

*Take breaks and drink plenty of fluids to avoid becoming.

If a customer's power goes out, they should report the outage by contacting Eversource at 800-286-2000 or on

To report natural gas issues, call 800-989-0900.