Outage Safety

In the event of a power outage, it’s important to prepare and protect you and your family until the electricity comes back on so you can get back to your normal routine.

ONCE AN OUTAGE OCCURS

Check your circuit breaker panel to make sure it isn’t tripped. If not, contact your neighbors to see if the outage is only within your home or on our powerlines. If there is an issue at your location, please contact EnergyUnited to report the outage.

REPORT AN OUTAGE

DURING AN OUTAGE

It’s crucial to protect your home from an overload on your electrical system. Follow these tips to prepare your home when things get dark and to prevent the possibility of another outage occurring.

• Keep one light on to see when the power comes back on. Keep the remainder off.
• Turn off all unnecessary appliances and make sure your electric kitchen range is off.
• Turn on your porch lights so our linemen know when the power is back on in your neighborhood.
• If an outage lasts more than an hour, turn off your electric water heater.
• Avoid opening a freezer door. A full standing freezer will keep food temperatures preserved for up to two days.
• If an outage happens during colder weather, close all windows and drapes to keep the heat inside your home.
• If you see a downed power line outside, stay away and contact EnergyUnited at 1-800-EUNITED (1-800-386-4833) immediately.
• Once the power comes back on, slowly turn on all appliances to avoid overload on your electrical system.

RESTORING POWER

Restoring power to the primary lines that serve our members is our main focus during an outage. We work as quickly and as safely as possible to ensure the satisfaction of all members. It’s important to know the guidelines EnergyUnited observes when restoring power to our service areas.

• Our primary lines, which serve hundreds of members, are served first, followed by repair of the branch lines in less populated areas.
• Medical facilities and individuals on life support are given the highest priority possible. Individuals who need medical assistance should seek shelter at their closest medical facility or call emergency services to be transferred.
• Co-op crews around the state will assist EnergyUnited in restoring power in our service areas if outages and damages become too severe.
• Find out more about How Power is Restored >>

IF USING A GENERATOR

Follow all safety instructions below to ensure you properly protect yourself and your family during a storm.

• Only a qualified professional should install a generator.
• Only run generators outside and avoid enclosed areas. Exhaust from generators contains carbon monoxide. Install carbon monoxide detectors in your home as a precaution.
• Never add fuel when a generator is on or hot.
• Do not connect a generator to your home’s wiring. A generator that is directly connected can feed back to other power lines in your area and injure neighbors or linemen.
• Do not overload the generator with appliances. Use only when necessary, and only power the essentials.
• Do not operate your generator in wet conditions, and protect your generator from natural elements.
• Once you permanently install your backup generator, contact EnergyUnited so we can notify our utility workers when they are working on an outage in your area.