Safety Tips

Safety Tips – Power Outage and/or Downed Lines

• You must be prepared before an outage happens.
• Have a good supply of batteries for the flashlights and radio. Have a touchtone phone as a standby to the cordless phones that will not work in a power outage or be sure your cell phone is always charged.
• During the winter, designate the best insulated room as the room that the family will stay in and close the doors to the other rooms to conserve heat.
• Watch for downed lines. Consider all lines energized and call us immediately. If you see a live “sparking” power line, remain clear and call us.
• If a line comes down on a vehicle that you are in, do not leave the car until you are given an all clear by emergency personnel.
• Keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible to maintain the cold temperature. The refrigerator will keep food safely cold for about 4 hours if it is unopened. A full freezer will hold the temperature for approximately 48 hours (24 hours if it is half full) if the door remains closed.
• When power goes out unplug your computer, microwave and other appliances that might be affected by a power surge when power is restored.
• If, after plugging in an appliance, the breakers trip (or fuse blows) or you see smoke or smell a burning odor, shut off power at the circuit breaker and have the appliance checked by a qualified appliance serviceman or licensed electrician.
• When using candles or kerosene lamps never leave them lit if you are not in the room especially where there are children or pets.
• Leave one light switch on so that you know when power is restored.
• Be patient. The crews are working as fast as they can to restore your electricity.

Safety Tips – Generator Safety

If you plan to use a portable generator, here are some important safety precautions:

• Read all instructions carefully and follow the manufacturer’s recommendations.
• First, never run your generator indoors or in your garage. Generators should only be run in a well-ventilated area. Gasoline-powered generators produce carbon monoxide and the fumes can be deadly if there is not adequate ventilation.
• Second, plug appliances directly into the generator using heavy duty, properly grounded extension cords.
• Make sure that extension cords are not frayed or worn.
• Limit the electrical load placed on the generator to no more than the recommended wattage.
• Do not connect your power generator directly to your home’s main fuse box or circuit panel.
• Use the generator only when necessary.
• Portable generators should not be connected to any of the utility power lines or house wiring unless the service is equipped with a double-throw switch properly installed by a licensed electrician. Generators that are not isolated or installed properly can feed back in to our lines and may cause serious injury to anyone coming in contact with those wires.
• Turn the generator off at night while you sleep and when you are away from home.

If you have any questions about how to properly use a portable electric generator, contact the manufacturer or a licensed electrician for assistance.