UEC wants you to remain safe and comfortable during an electrical outage. There are things you can do beforehand to make it easier for you and your family to get through an outage. Be prepared for outages all year and especially during summer months, when wind and lightning storms are more likely to occur and could cause dangerous conditions.
How do I report a Power Outage?
Call 1 (888) 465-5701 any time day or night to report an outage. You will be asked about your location and situation, and a line crew will be dispatched to fix the problem. It is helpful to keep the “grid plate” numbers handy and provide that information. Each pole has a grid plate with numbers and letters describing its exact location. The grid plate numbers help line crews to quickly find the precise location of the problem. Meter number, account number, account name and address are also helpful.
How do I prepare for a power outage?
Put together an emergency preparedness kit with these supplies in case of a prolonged or widespread power outage:
- Water—one gallon per person, per day
- Food—non-perishable, easy-to prepare items, and a manual can opener for canned goods
- Flashlight (Do not use candles during a power outage due to the extreme risk of fire)
- Battery-powered or hand-crank radio (NOAA Weather Radio, if possible)
- Extra blankets and warm clothes
- A safe alternate source of heat and extra fuel (wood, kerosene).
- Extra batteries
- First aid kit
- Medications (7-day supply) and medical items
- Multi-purpose tool
- Sanitation and personal hygiene items
- Copies of personal documents (medication list and pertinent medical information, deed/lease to home, birth certificates, insurance policies)
- Cell phone with portable chargers
- Family and emergency contact information
- Extra cash
- Keep your car’s gas tank full
- If someone in your home is dependent on electric-powered, life-sustaining equipment, remember to include backup power in your evacuation plan
What should I do during a power outage?
Keep food as safe as possible.
- Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible. First use perishable food from the refrigerator. An unopened refrigerator will keep foods cold for about 4 hours.
- Then use food from the freezer. A full freezer will keep the temperature for about 48 hours (24 hours if it is half full) if the door remains closed.
- If it looks like the power outage will continue beyond a day, prepare a cooler with ice for your freezer items. Inexpensive Styrofoam coolers work well.
Protect your electrical equipment.
- Turn off and unplug all unnecessary electrical equipment (except your refrigerator and freezer).
- Turn off or disconnect any appliances (like stoves), equipment or electronics you were using when the power went out.
- Leave one light turned on so you’ll know when the power comes back on.
Safety tips for using backup generators.
- Use generators only as independent power sources. Keep them outside and run a cord inside. Don’t connect generators to main service panels. This could injure or kill utility workers trying to restore power.
Monitor UEC’s Facebook page and our Outage Map for current updates.
If power has been restored but your home or business is still without power, check to make sure the main breaker is on. If the breakers are on and power is still not present, contact UEC at 1 (888) 465-5701. If you have a solar electrical system, this system should be inspected by a licensed technician to verify that the solar panels and electrical wiring are safe for continued operation.
Download a copy of the Power Outage Checklist (PDF)