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Power Outage Checklist

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Through rain and wind, snow and ice, PPCS strives to keep the power on for every home and business in its service area. But sometimes unexpected conditions cause PPCS members to temporarily lose power. When storms or other circumstances cause an outage, PPCS takes immediate action to restore service. With safety the top priority, our linemen work as quickly as possible to get the power back on. Follow these steps 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 and kerosene or oil lamps. Keep your alternate light source in an established place where it can be found easily in an outage situation.

  • 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, PPCS will contact local radio stations and other media about restoration efforts.

  • Communication: Make sure you have a traditional phone or cell phone with you (cordless phones won’t operate without electricity).

  • 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.

  • Water: If your water supply comes from a well with an electric water pump, you need to prepare prior to a storm. Sanitize and fill spare containers with water for drinking and cooking. Also, fill your bathtub with water for other uses.

  • Heat sources in winter: When the power goes out, so do most heating systems. If you have a fireplace or wood-burning stove, make sure you keep plenty of wood during the winter. A portable electric generator is another good option for back-up power, as long as it is properly installed and operated. Click here to learn more about installing a generator.

  • Protect your appliances: Turn off all large appliances that come on automatically and disconnect sensitive equipment such as VCRs, DVD players, stereos, computers and televisions to avoid damage from lightning or a power surge. If all of these appliances were to 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 our qualified linemen 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 has blown or a circuit breaker has been tripped. If all lights are off, check to see if your neighbor's lights are also off. This will help your electric cooperative determine the extent of the outage.

  • Contact PPCS: Report the outage to PPCS using SmartHub or by calling 800-927-5705.

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 most essential appliances and wait a few minutes before reconnecting others.

  • During or after a winter storm outage, check any outdoor heating unit to assure that the fans and outdoor heat exchangers are free from ice and snow before operating them.

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

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Pierce Pepin Cooperative Services

W7725 U.S. Hwy. 10 • P.O. Box 420 Ellsworth, WI 54011

Telephone: 715-273-4355
Toll-free: 800-924-2133
Outages: 800-927-5705

Office Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

We Make Safety a Priority

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©2021 Pierce Pepin Cooperative Services. All Rights Reserved.

  • Emergency Response Plan
  • My Co-op
    • Board of Directors
      • Agendas
      • Director Elections
    • Capital Credits
    • Careers at PPCS
    • Contact Us
    • Legislative Update
    • Leadership Team
    • "Live Better" Podcast
    • PPCS Quick Facts
    • Press Releases
    • WEC News
  • My Community
    • Child ID Program
    • Live Better Community Service Award
    • Operation Round Up
      • Operation Round Up Instructions
    • Power Line Safety Demo
    • Scholarships
    • Youth Leadership Congress & Nat'l Youth Tour
  • Member Hub
    • Start, Stop or Transfer Service
    • Ways to Pay
      • Energy Assistance
      • PowerNow! With Prepay
      • SmartHub
    • Programs & Rebates
    • Load Management
    • Energy Efficiency
      • Energy Calculators
      • Focus On Energy
      • Together We Save
    • Electric Service Rates
    • Dusk-to-Dawn Lights
    • Electric Safety
      • Safety Quiz
    • Power Quality
      • Farm Rewiring Program
      • Stray Voltage Testing
    • Vegetation Management
  • Outage Center
    • Power Outage Checklist
  • Go Green
    • Distributed Generation
    • Electric Vehicles
    • Evergreen