Power outages happen. Whether it's during a severe winter storm or on a seemingly perfect summer day, it's good to know what to do if your power goes out. Know that your CCEC lineworkers will restore power as quickly and as safely as possible.
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Don't go out at night to look at storm damage. There may be downed power lines or other debris that can cause serious injury.
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If you clear trees on your property, don't try to remove those tangles in power lines.
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Stay away from downed power lines - always assume the lines are "live"
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Do not wade or drive through water; there could be a hidden power line or another source of electric current.
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Call 911 in the event of an emergency.
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Keeping the public safe is the top priority. Crews will first clear fallen lines from the roadways.
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Once roadways have been cleared, work will begin on restoring substations, if necessary. Sometimes service to hundred of members can be restored immediately by restoring power at the substation.
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Next, major distribution feeders are repaired. These are the lines that come from the substation. If energy isn’t flowing over these lines, your home cannot receive power.
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Tap lines are repaired next. These lines carry power to groups of homes from distribution feeders. Sometimes taps need to be disconnected to get the main lines back on.
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Finally, individual service lines are repaired. While CCEC is responsible for getting the electricity to your meter, members must contact an electrician to repair damage to member-owned electric equipment.
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Turn off lights and small appliances; unplug computers, TVs, and stereos. This helps avoid a surge in usage when the power is restored.
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Limit freezer and refrigerator door openings. Food will keep longer if doors remain closed. Check items for spoilage before serving. Food safety during an outage.
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Do not use charcoal or gas grills indoors for cooking or heating. They produce carbon monoxide.
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If it is a winter outage, try to keep outside door openings to a minimum and use blankets, sleeping bags and extra clothes to help stay warm. Dress in layers and wear a hat. Cover drafty windows and doors with blankets. Close off doors and stay in the room with your heat source.
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Run a generator only through a properly installed transfer switch or plug appliances directly into the generator using a properly sized extension cord. Do not run the generator in enclosed spaces. Generator safety
- Assemble an emergency kit including candles, matches, firewood, battery-operated radio and clock, extra blankets, sleeping bags, containers for storing water, portable fire extinguisher, easily-prepared foods, canned goods and manual can opener. How to prepare an emergency kit.
- Many cordless phones require electricity and may not work during an outage. Keep your cell phones charged.