BURLINGTON, Vt. — As blizzard conditions intensify across Vermont and New Hampshire, residents in Burlington, Manchester and surrounding communities are being urged to conserve cellphone battery life ahead of potential overnight power outages.
Heavy snowfall, gusting winds and falling temperatures can strain power lines across both states. During a prolonged outage, mobile devices may become the primary source for emergency alerts, road updates and communication with family members.
Officials recommend taking the following steps immediately.
Lower Screen Brightness
Bright screens quickly drain battery power.
On iPhone, open Settings, tap Display & Brightness and reduce the brightness level.
On Android, open Settings, tap Display and lower brightness using the quick settings panel.
Turn On Low Power or Battery Saver Mode
These settings reduce background activity and extend battery life.
On iPhone, go to Settings → Battery and enable Low Power Mode.
On Android, open Settings → Battery and activate Battery Saver or Power Saving Mode, depending on the device.
Use Text Instead of Calling
Blizzard conditions can strain cellular networks. Text messaging typically requires less signal strength and battery usage than voice calls.
Disable Nonessential Features
Turn off Bluetooth, Wi-Fi if unavailable, location services and background app refresh. Close unused apps running in the background.
Limit Constant App Refreshing
Repeatedly checking weather or social media apps can quickly reduce battery life. Officials advise checking updates periodically instead of continuously.
With heavy snow continuing across Vermont and New Hampshire, conserving battery power now may help ensure continued connectivity if outages occur overnight.
