Call Before You Dig
Just because you don't have overhead power lines does not mean you don't have to worry about electric safety outdoors. Some power lines are buried only about 18 inches underground. If you are digging near underground cable and break it, you could be electrocuted! In addition you could have a troublesome power outage, costing precious time on the job site, and you may be liable for a stiff fine if you had failed to call about the location of possible underground utilities where you were digging.

Remember, save yourself possible personal injury, job delay and expense by calling before you dig. Do not take chances. Call 811 at least 48 hours prior to excavating and tell them where you plan to dig.


 

Outage Reporting
Through wind, rain, sleet, snow, and ice, Sierra Electric Cooperative strives to keep the power on for every home and business in our service area.  But sometimes unexpected conditions will cause our members to temporarily lose power.  We strive to deliver consistent, uninterrupted service 365 days a year.  When storms or other circumstances cause an outage, we take immediate actions to restore service.

Moreover, please know that in times of major storms and resulting outages, all personnel are called in and additional dispatchers are added to receive your call.  Please be patient and once having reported your outage, please resist the temptation to call again as this will actually slow our overall response time since it creates confusion by tying up the phone lines,  preventing us from getting a complete picture of the overall storm damage and giving the most efficient response.

As we work as quickly as possible to get the power back on, there are some steps you can take before, during, and after an outage to make it easier to cope.

·  LIGHT: Always have alternate sources of light on hand. It could be a flashlight with extra batteries, candles, kerosene or oil lamps.  Keep your alternate light source in an established place where it can be found easily in an outage situation.  Please exercise appropriate care and caution when using a light source with an open flame.

·  INFORMATION: Have a battery-powered radio available.  The radio will bring you weather reports, local news bulletins, and other important emergency information.  During a widespread outage, Sierra Electric Cooperative will contact local radio stations about restoration efforts.

·  FOOD: Stock emergency food and related items along with a manual can opener.  Keep your refrigerator/freezer doors closed as much as possible to reduce the chance of food spoilage.

·  MEDICAL: It is a good idea in any rural setting, and particularly during seasons of potential inclement weather, to keep back-up medical supplies and equipment on hand (medications, insulin, oxygen tank, batteries, etc.)

·  PROTECT YOUR APPLIANCES: Turn off large appliances that come on automatically and disconnect sensitive equipment such as VCRs, computers and TVs to avoid damage from lightning.  If all these appliances come back on at once,  they might overload your home’s electric circuits.  Leave a single lamp turned on to let you know when your electric service has been restored.

·  PLAY IT SAFE: Never touch downed power lines or anything contacting power lines.  Although you may see lines that are down,  they could still be energized.  Never attempt to move trees from power lines.  Let qualified servicemen from Sierra Electric Cooperative handle the clearing and repair work.

·  CONFIRM THE OUTAGE: First check lights and appliances in other rooms.  If you still have power in some areas, most likely a fuse or a circuit breaker in your house has blown.  If all lights are off, check to see if your neighbor’s lights are off also.  This will help us determine how widespread the outage is.  Bear in mind that just because your neighbor has power (and you do not) does not necessarily mean the problem is limited to you. Your power may be on a different feeder line.

You may call Sierra Electric Cooperative 24 hours a day 365 days a year at 1-888-336-3380 to report an outage.
Be prepared to give as much pertinent information as possible to our dispatchers:

Account Name and Number
Location and Address
Return Contact Phone Number
The Problem and Extent
Whether you are on the Medical Attention List

After reporting an outage, please do not call again, especially after major storm systems. The number of times a person calls does not result in a faster return of service.  Multiple calls only tend to create confusion,  tie up the phone line,  and delay other calls to report outages,  thus slowing down and inhibiting a more focused and efficient response in restoring service.

When the Power Comes Back On...

·  Give the electrical system a chance to stabilize by gradually reconnecting the appliances you previously disconnected.  When the power first comes back on,  turn on only the essential appliances and wait a few minutes before reconnecting others.

·  Check food supplies in the refrigerator/freezer for signs of spoilage.  Don’t take chances with food you are not sure about.  When in doubt, throw it out.