POWER OUTAGE PREPAREDNESS

BY LEAH MCCLAIN MPE DISPATCH/OPERATIONS SUPERVISOR

In 2022, Mountain Parks Electric consumers experienced an average of only 1.45 hours of power interruptions. Last July, lightning caused 17 outages in our service area, affecting 369 MPE members.

Most outages are short in duration, but it’s smart to prepare for one that might last longer. Here are some important things to consider in an extended outage:

FOOD & WATER PREP

• If you have a well, your pump will not operate, so make sure to have bottled water on hand. Plan for one gallon per person per day.

• If you know severe weather will be rolling in, fill up a bathtub to have water for flushing toilets.

• Keep your refrigerator closed as much as you can.

• Your freezer will keep the temperature for 24–48 hours, depending on the amount of food stored.

• During prolonged outages, you can keep food surrounded by ice in the refrigerator.

• Be sure to throw out food exposed to temperatures higher than 40 degrees for longer than 2 hours and any food that feels warm to the touch.

Essential Electrical Equipment

• If anyone in your home is dependent on oxygen or other life-support systems that require electricity, make sure to have a backup plan in place.

• Turn off and unplug all unnecessary electrical equipment, including sensitive electronics.

• Leave one light turned to the “on” position so you notice when the power comes back on.

• If you are considering getting a generator, make sure to get advice from an electrician regarding the rating needed. If you experience a power outage, you can check our outage map at mpei.com to see if the outage is affecting a larger area. You can also sign up for outage notifications on SmartHub (MPE’s online account management tool) to alert you to outages when you are not home. MPE has linemen on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week to restore any power outages safely and quickly.

BY CHRIS MICHALOWSKI POWER USE ADVISOR