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What
to do when the lights go out!
The HL&PD encourages you to be
prepared just in case Mother Nature has difficult weather in
store for us.
Play
it Safe!
When the electricity goes
out, first unplug all major electric equipment and appliances.
This is important so that your equipment will not be damaged when
service is restored. Leave one light on so that you'll know when
the electricity is back on.
Call
us!
When you lose electric power, first
check your circuit breakers and/or fuses. Once you're sure the
failure is not an internal problem, call us at 978-568-8736. If
it’s a weekend or holiday, after 5 p.m. or before 8 a.m.,
call 562-2368. We'll need to know your:
Name:__________________________
Address: _______________________________
Phone Number: __________________________
How long has the power been out: _________
Are there wires down around your home: _______
Remember, the HL&PD may be operating on
emergency lines to take hundreds of calls, one right after
another. Rest assured that the phones are
never taken off the hook. Here's what
happens when the lights go out:
- Employees take down information
from customers. Our emergency dispatch handles calls
around the clock. In prolonged outages, Office employees
work into the evening to help out.
- Information from customers is fed
to the Distribution Superintendent.
- The Distribution Superintendent
directs the Linecrews to problems which, when repaired,
will restore the largest number of customers.
- The Linecrews keep working as long
as safely possible. If available, outside crews may be
called in to help.
If the outage is severe enough, the
employee taking your information will not always know where the
Linecrews are working or when they’ll get to you. While we
understand your frustration, please try not to tie up the
telephone lines. Remember, there are many people trying to report
their problems, and it is important that we get their
information. We’ll restore your service as quickly as
possible because "We’re here to
serve you!"
Storm
checklists!
When a major storm is predicted, make
sure you have the following on hand:
[ ] Flashlights.
[ ] Batteries.
[ ] Battery-operated radio.
[ ] Fire extinguisher (or baking soda in case there's a
fire).
[ ] Canned & dry foods.
[ ] Water, if you have an electric water pump.
If the electricity does go off:
[ ] Check your fuses & circuit
breakers.
[ ] Check your neighbor’s house to see if they have
power.
[ ] Turn off all major appliances.
[ ] Leave on one light so you’ll know when power is
restored.
[ ] Call us at 978-562-2368 or at 978-568-8736.
Keep safety in mind during an outage:
[ ] Never, ever touch downed wires!
[ ] Don’t use grills inside the house!
[ ] To ensure the safety of our Linecrews, only use a standby
generator that has been properly installed!
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