Power Interruptions
Please make a selection below to display Planned and Unplanned power outages in the EnWin Utilities service area.
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Power Interruption Safety Information
Assemble Essential Supplies Including:
- Flashlight
- Batteries
- Portable Radio
- Due to the extreme risk of fire, do not use candles during a power interruption
Refrigerators/Freezers
- If you have space in your refrigerator or freezer, consider filling plastic containers with water, leaving about an inch of space inside each one. Place the containers in the refrigerator or freezer. This chilled or frozen water will help keep food cold if the power goes out by displacing air that can warm up quickly with water or ice that keeps cold for several hours without additional refigeration.
- Remember, water expands as it freezes so it is important to leave room in the container for the expanded water.
Medication
- If you use medication that requires refrigeration, most can be kept in a closed refrigerator for several hours without a problem. If unsure, check with your physician or pharmacist.
Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarms
- Make sure your home has a battery-operated smoke alarm on every level and a battery-operated carbon monoxide alarm.
- You are responsible for notifying your landlord that the dwelling is without electricity.
Home Escape Planning and Emergency Communication
- Make sure everyone knows that they must leave the building immediately in the event of fire.
- Practice your escape plan.
Computers
- Keep files and operating systems backed up regularly
- Buy extra batteries and a power converter if you use a laptop computer.
- A power converter allows most laptops (12 volts or less) to be operated from the cigarette lighter of a vehicle.
- Turn off all computers, monitors, printers, copiers, scanners and other devices when they're not being used.
- Get a high quality surge protector for all of your computer equipment.
- If you use a computer a lot, such as for a home business, consider purchasing and installing an un-interruptible power supply (UPS).
Electric Garage Door Openers
- Find out where the manual release lever is located and learn how to operate it.
- If you regularly use the garage as the primary means of entering your home upon return from work, be sure to keep a key to your house with you, in case the garage door will not open.
Telephones
- If you have a telephone system at home or at work that requires electricity to work (such as a cordless phone or answering machine), plan for alternate communication, including having a standard telephone handset, cellular telephone, radio, or pager.
What To Do During a Power Interruption
- To prevent fires starting when electricity is restored, turn OFF or disconnect stove elements, ovens, kettles, frying pans, clothes irons, hair dryers, toasters, blenders, mixers etc.), and equipment (like air conditioners) or electronics you were using when the power went out.
- Leave the doors of your refrigerator and freezer closed as much as possible to keep your food as fresh as possible. If you must eat food that was refrigerated or frozen, check it carefully for signs of spoilage.
- Have at least one telephone (not cordless) that works during a power interruption.
- If it is hot outside, take steps to remain cool. Move to the lowest level of your home, as cool air falls. Wear lightweight, light coloured clothing. Drink plenty of water, even if you do not feel thirsty.
- If the heat is intense and the power may be off for a long time, consider going to a movie theatre, shopping mall, or "cooling shelter" that may be opened in your community.
- Remember to provide plenty of fresh, cool water for your pets.
- If it is cold outside, put on layers of warm clothing.
- Never burn charcoal for heating or cooking indoors.
- Never use your gas oven as a source of heat.
- If the power may be out for a prolonged period, plan to go to another location (relative, friend, or public facility) that has heat to keep warm.
Loss of Heat
When a building's heating system is inoperative it may cause freezing of the following:
- water supplies
- sanitary systems
- fire sprinklers
- standpipe hose systems
- portable fire extinguishers
Heating and Cooking/Carbon Monoxide
- Carbon monoxide is produced by any device fuelled by natural gas, propane, heating oil, kerosene, coal, charcoal, gasoline or wood.
- Carbon monoxide is a colourless, odourless, tasteless gas that can be deadly.
- Devices that burn fuel require oxygen to burn properly and ventilation to remove the deadly products of combustion.
Generators
- Do not run a generator inside a home or garage.
- If you use a generator, connect the equipment you want to power directly to the outlets on the generator.
- Do no connect a generator to a home's electrical panel or outlet.
