Power Outage FAQs - Residential

Frequently asked questions about power outages and what you should do during extended outages.

How do I report a power outage?

• In Warren County call 843-9710. In all other areas call 1-888-604-4321.
• Give the personnel or special answering system your name, address and telephone number. If you cannot get through, please be patient and remember that many other customers may be calling to report the outage. Warren RECC uses a special automatic answering system during large outages. If you have an emergency, please explain. We value your phone calls because they allow us to track the size and severity of the outage.

What are some factors that cause power outages?

• High winds blowing trees and branches onto power lines
• Vehicles striking and breaking utility poles
• High winds breaking utility poles
• Cold load problems- (service load problems when putting lines back in service)
• Animals such as birds, snakes and squirrels climbing poles and contacting both pole and the power line
• Snow and ice causing power lines to break or touch tree branches
• Overloaded lines
• Substation problems

How does Warren Rural Electric Cooperative restore power?

Power restoration procedures are very simple. First, we restore power to areas where the greatest numbers of families and businesses are affected. Below is the order in which Warren RECC restores power:

• Primary transmission lines from the power generation facility
• Substations
• Main feeder lines (69,000 volts) in populated residential areas
• Three-phase lines in the most populated areas
• Three-phase lines in all other areas
• Single-phase lines
• Individual services and transformers are the last to be repaired

What other steps does the cooperative take to be prepared for and respond to severe/prolonged outages?

Warren RECC is committed to doing everything possible to restore power as quickly as conditions allow. During a severe outage lasting several days the cooperative will:

• Pre-position employees and materials in any area expected to be hit hard by severe weather
• Call in employees from other, unaffected, Warren RECC offices
• Request outside help from other rural electric cooperatives and utility companies
• Hire additional tree-trimming crews
• Work long hours every day and night until power is restored
• Use local media to update customers as to our progress

What should my family do when the power goes off?

• Check your fuse box or circuit breaker to see if a fuse has blown or a breaker has tripped. If your fuses and breakers are okay, check your neighbors' houses for lights. If your neighbors have power, the problem may be just at your home.
• If your neighbors do not have lights, then you should call Warren RECC and report the outage.
• Turn off heat pump and lights. This decreases the initial power demand when the electricity is restored.

How often should I report the outage?

Once you report an outage, please give Warren RECC time to respond and repair the damage. The cause of the outage may be miles from your home, and thus you may not see our vehicles in your area. If your power has not been restored within a few hours of your first call, please call again. You should also call again if power is restored to your neighbors but not to your home. If severe weather strikes, such as a tornado, ice storm or blizzard, it may be several days before power is restored to all our customers. During such an extended outage it is helpful if the customer calls and reports the outage each morning. A special employee team evaluates all calls.

What should my family do during an extended outage?

• If power goes off, turn off electric heating/cooling system, depending on season.
• Turn off appliances and lights, leaving one light on to signal the restoration of power.
• Open refrigerators and freezers only as needed.
• If power is off for 24 hours, ice down refrigerator food items.
• After power has been restored, turn on heating/cooling system and appliances one by one over a period of time to minimize strain on system and prevent cold-load pick-up problems.
• Report all damage in your community. If you cannot get through to Warren RECC, it may be because others in your area are calling to report outage.
• Listen to local radio stations for updates.
• If the weather is extremely cold, seek shelter if possible.

What problems occur when power is restored?

If power is disrupted during severe hot or cold weather, problems are likely to occur. Many families do not turn off heating/cooling systems and appliances when the power goes off. As power is restored, those appliances cause an overload on power lines. Line protection equipment will not allow lines to become overloaded. Heavy loads cause breakers to become overloaded and try to poll too much power at one time. Power restoration problems can be prevented if customers turn off their electric heating or air-conditioning systems, lights, and appliances. After power is restored, they should then be turned back on over a period of time.

How should I use a portable generator?

Portable generators, especially generators designed for home use, are not powerful enough to run your whole home. Necessary appliances such as the refrigerator, freezer or a space heater should be plugged into the generator. Never plug your generator into regular outlets.
A generator connected to your home's wiring systems must have a double throw switch that disconnects the generator and your home from Warren RECC's power system. This switch must be installed by a licensed electrician and must be inspected by the state or county electrical inspector. Farm and commercial generators must be installed with a switch that disconnects the building from Warren RECC's power system while the generator is being used.

Should I help by removing trees from power lines?

No, it is impossible to tell just by looking at them if power lines are energized. Live trees are excellent conductors of electricity, as are metal chain saw blades and bars. If power is out in your area, be aware that neighbors using electric generators incorrectly could be sending electricity into the lines. This could be deadly.

Why does my neighbor have lights while my home is still without power?

Your neighbor's home may be on a different line. For example, a three-phase line may run right in front of your home, but you may receive power through a single-phase line running through your backyard from a different circuit. Also, the problem may be on the wire between the pole and your home, or your phase of a three-phase line may be out while the other two are still operating.