A message from The Illuminating Company

What You Should Do When the Lights Go Out

Make sure you are prepared in the event that the power goes out.

If your lights go out, first check to see if your neighbors’ power is out or if only your home is affected.  Then, check for problems with the fuses or breakers in your home.  To check your circuit breakers or fuses, go to your home’s electric service panel.  This is a gray metal box located on the wall of your basement or garage, or somewhere inside near your electric meter.  For safety’s sake, first make sure your hands and the floor you are standing on are dry.  Open the door on the face of the service panel and see if a circuit breaker is tripped or a fuse is blown. If so, reset the breaker or replace the fuse.  To reset a tripped breaker, move the switch all the way to the “OFF” position, then all the way back to the “ON” position.  To replace a blown fuse, turn the fuse counterclockwise until it screws all the way out, like a light bulb.  Replace it with a new fuse that has the same ampere rating (such as 10A, 15A, etc.) as the old fuse.  DO NOT use a new fuse with a higher rating – this could damage your home’s wiring or even cause a fire.

Once you’ve determined that the problem is not inside your home, contact The Iluminating Company to report an outage.  The best way to do this is to call the automated reporting line at 1-888-544-4877 (1-888-LIGHTSS).  When you call, simply follow the prompts.  That will alert The Illuminating Company’s trouble crews to a problem in your neighborhood.  While some people don’t like using an automated phone line, it is the quickest way to ensure that The Illuminating Company knows your power is out.  And, in a major storm, it is the only way that thousands of reports can be taken at once.  Also, don’t assume that your neighbors have called.  Your call may help The Illuminating Company to identify the problem.

In rare instances, a damaging power surge may occur during or following a power outage.  To safeguard your electronic equipment and appliances, and to ease the initial load when the power is restored, turn off or unplug televisions, VCRs, DVDs, computers, and appliances such as refrigerators that use electric motors.  Leave an incandescent light on so you know when power is restored.  After the power is restored, simply turn on or plug in these items again.

Most storms are minor and result in limited damage that can be repaired quickly.  Some storms, however, can cause major damage to trees, power lines and other electrical equipment, requiring days of repair work.  In these cases, here are a few safety tips to keep in mind.

• Report downed wires immediately.  Never go near a downed power line, even if you think it is no longer carrying electricity.  The consequences of being wrong could be serious injury or, worse yet, death.    

• Don’t try to remove trees or tree limbs from power lines.  Wait for The Illuminating Company’s crews to arrive. 

• Never use a gas stove or lantern that is intended for outdoor use to heat or light your home. 

• Keep candles and other flammable objects away from children or pets. 

• Avoid opening the refrigerator or freezer.  A full freezer can keep food frozen for up to three days if it’s kept closed.  It’s harder to keep food cold in the refrigerator, especially in warm weather.  Don’t take chances with food.  Throw out anything that looks like it might be spoiled. 

• Disconnect major appliances until after the power has been restored.  This includes appliances that run automatically, such as heating and cooling systems and water heaters, and those that may have been running when the power went off, such as ovens, ranges, lights and clothes dryers.  By disconnecting these appliances, you avoid damage that could occur from a power surge.  Keep one incandescent light connected so you will know when the power is back on. 

• Make sure you have fresh batteries in a portable radio so you can stay tuned to your local radio station for updates on the progress to restore power.

If you see a downed power line:

• Don’t go near the wire or anything it is touching.  Always assume it is carrying electricity.  The current from a live electric wire can severely injure or kill you.

• Warn others to stay away.  Keep pets away too.

• Call The Illuminating Company immediately at the 24-hour outage reporting number: 1-888-544-4877 (1-888-LIGHTSS)

• If you are unable to reach The Illuminating Company, please call 9-1-1

Emergency power generators offer an option for customers needing or wanting uninterrupted service.  However, to ensure the safety of your home’s occupants, as well as that of utility company employees who may be working on power lines in the area, the proper generator should be selected and installed by a qualified electrician.  It is important to follow the generator’s operating instructions exactly.  When operating a generator, always disconnect the power coming into your home.  Otherwise, power from your generator could flow out of your house into the electrical lines, creating a hazardous situation for workers resulting in serious injury or death.  In addition, when power is restored to your home, your house circuits or your generator could be damaged or catch fire.

As always, call The Illuminating Company if you have any questions about your service. To report an outage, call the 24-hour toll-free Outage Reporting Number: 1-888-544-4877 (1-888-LIGHTSS).  To call Customer Service, for non-emergencies and questions, the number is 1-800-589-3101.  The web site address is: WWW.FIRSTENERGYCORP.COM.