Sheffield Utilities
(256) 389-2000
300 North Nashville Avenue
PO Box 580
Sheffield, AL 35660
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Sheffield Utilities |
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| If the Power Goes Off | |
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| Suddenly you have no lights, you stumble around
and finally find your flashlight. What do you do next? Locate your main
breaker panel and check your breakers or fuses. If they are tripped, try
to reset or replace them. If nothing happens quickly call Sheffield Utilities
and report your outage. Our emergency response team will be alerted and
a crew will be immediately dispatched to restore your service. Most outages will be restored quickly by merely removing damaging tree limbs from the lines or by resetting substation breakers. If a major outage has occurred due to heavy storm conditions, an automobile wreck or a loss of power from our wholesale power supplier, you should be prepared to make your home as comfortable and safe as possible without electricity. Exercise the following guidelines: 1. HAVE A PLAN - Audit your supplies to be sure the necessary items are on hand and that they are in good working order. Some of the essential things you should have are: Flashlights, candles, water containers, food, extra blankets, camp stove, and maybe a small generator. 2. DAMAGE & SAFETY - Be sure all gas systems requiring electricity to operate them properly are turned off. Drain all water lines that are subject to freezing, including your water heater. Do not connect generators to the main disconnect. Line crews working in the area could receive dangerous voltages on power lines connected to household generators. 3. HEATING - Plan for another source of heating in the event of a cold weather outage. If you have a fireplace or wood stove, keep adequate kindling and firewood near the house. Another option is a non-electric space heater. Ventilate well if you use gas or oil heaters in an enclosed space. Avoid carbon monoxide poisoning. If you are using gasoline or propane generators, keep them outdoors because of deadly exhaust fumes that are emitted. 4. REFRIGERATION / FOOD STORAGE - Food will keep about one day in a refrigerator if the door is not opened. Use a cooler to store milk, fruit and other frequently used foods to reduce the amount of time the door is opened. If the freezer is fully loaded and the door is not opened, food should remain frozen for up to two days. 5. RADIO & CLOCK - Have a battery-operated radio so you can hear the news and a battery operated clock if your electric ones don't have a battery back-up. 6. TELEPHONE - Answering machines, and the telephones that work with them, are electric. If you have an answering machine, make sure your alternate telephone is connected directly to the telephone line and does not require an electric system so you can make and receive telephone calls during a power outage. Have emergency telephone numbers readily accessible |
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© 2002 Sheffield Utilities |