What to do during a power outage
Cass County Electric Cooperative (CCEC) strives to provide you with reliable, uninterrupted service every day of the year, but sometimes Mother Nature creates unavoidable power outages. CCEC wants you to remain safe during severe winter weather, so consider these tips.
To report an outage
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Confirm the outage. Check your own fuses and circuit breakers first.
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Check with a neighbor to confirm if he or she is also experiencing an outage before you call the cooperative. This will help CCEC determine the extent of the outage.
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Report the outage on the Cass County Electric mobile app or call CCEC. If the outage is widespread, the phone lines may be busy, but our IVR will log the call and associate it with your account. CCEC will send a line crew to find the problem and restore power as quickly as possible.
Operate generator safely
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If your standby electric generator has been in storage since last winter, make sure it is still operating properly – before an outage occurs.
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Always follow the manufacturer’s recommendations on how to use your generator.
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Most important is the transfer switch that disconnects the farm or home from the power line and connects it to the generator. It must be a doublethrow transfer switch, which prevents the generator from feeding electricity back onto the power line. This protects the lineworkers who may be working to restore your service.
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Do not operate a portable generator in your home, basement or garage. Generators can quickly produce high levels of carbon monoxide, which can be deadly.
Assume downed lines are energized
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Always assume fallen power lines are energized. Stay at least 10 feet away from a downed power line and any nearby objects it may be touching, such as a fence or a tree limb.
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Contact CCEC immediately to report downed power lines outside your home.
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Never attempt to move a downed power line. Call CCEC at 701-356-4400.
During a power outage
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Only use flashlights for emergency lighting. Candles can cause fires.
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Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed. Most food requiring refrigeration can be kept safely in a closed refrigerator for several hours. An unopened refrigerator will keep food cold for about four hours. A full freezer will keep the temperature for about 48 hours.
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Never burn charcoal for heating or cooking indoors.
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Turn off or disconnect appliances and other equipment in case of a momentary power “surge” that can damage computers and other devices.
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Consider adding surge protectors.