Emergencies

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 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 562-2368 or at 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!