Power is something we often take for granted. We depend on it to work and most of the time it does; but when the lights go out, it’s good to know what to do. Here are a few things to keep in mind.
Do
- Do make a note of what time your power went out. Details like this are important.
- Check to see if your neighbors have power. If they do, check your circuit breakers. The power outage may be an easy fix.
- Do wait about 5 minutes before reporting the outage. The BEC grid uses a system of reclosers. These are similar to circuit breakers in your home. If reclosers detect a problem they close, then open the circuit (sometimes more than once) to test the electricity flow. Wait a few minutes to give the reclosures enough time to test.
- Do let us know. Power blinks are common during a storm, but if you notice your power blink on and off every five minutes or so, on an otherwise clear day, let us know so we can investigate.
- Do report outages using the myBEC mobile app or call our 24/7 dispatch center at (866) 226-3372.
- Do include important information such as gate or lock combinations, pole numbers, or other observations like a blown transformer fuse.
- Do stash flashlights in key locations around the home.
- Do stay up to date with outages in your area with our live outage map at the Outage Map page.
Don't
- Don’t report an outage on our social media page. It’s not monitored by dispatch.
- Don’t assume we know about an outage in your area.
- Don’t use a generator indoors. Generators running inside your home will expose you and your family to deadly carbon monoxide.
- Don’t open the refrigerator or freezer. Try to minimize the number of times you let the cold air escape. You could be without power for a while, and you want to keep your food safe.
- Don’t walk into standing water. You never know what could be down there. Downed branches or even power lines could be hiding in the mirky water below.
Have a plan and make the most out of a bad situation. Play some board games, read a book or just talk with the family. You could end up making some great family memories along the way.