10 Things To Do When Your Electricity Goes Out in a Winter Storm

In Wisconsin, it’s almost a sure bet that when your power suddenly goes out in Winter, the cause is due to the weather. Snow or ice storms and bitter cold can cause power outages either for just your home or place of business, or cause an area-wide outage. Here are 10 things to do if your power goes out in Winter.

1. Determine if the power is out for your entire area, or if it’s just out for your location. If it’s just your location, check the circuit breaker or fuse box in your home to see if a circuit was tripped or if a fuse needs replacing in order to restore your power.

2. Do NOT call 911 unless there is an emergency, such as a person in danger or an injury or if there is a down power line or lines.

3. Do contact Wisconsin Electric if you see that your service area or block is affected by an outage.

4. Use a battery powered tv or radio to stay informed on repair time estimates for wide-spread power outages. Keep a light switched on to let you know when the power has returned.

5. Food in a freezer and refrigerator can stay cold for hours if your minimize or avoid opening the appliance doors.

6. Be sure to dress warm and make sure any neighbors who could use help are doing the same.

7. Turn off your computers, stereos and any other electric equipment that could be damaged from a power surge once the power returns.

8. Don’t connect a generator to your home’s power unless it has been installed properly to disconnect you from the main power grid when operating! This could cause death for electric company workers as the generator could send electricity back down the power lines.

9. If you need to drive, be careful and aware that traffic lights might be out.

10. Do not use outdoor heating devices inside!