Learn about storm outage tips and how to prepare before a storm strikes here.
• Perishable or frozen food that has been held at a temperature above 40 degrees Fahrenheit for more than two hours should be thrown away.
• Rarely open either the refrigerator or freezer door so cold air does not escape.
• Keep a thermometer in the refrigerator and freezer so you can monitor the temperature when you open the door.
• If an outage appears to be lengthy, pack perishable items into a cooler surrounded by ice or dry ice. If outside temperatures are cold enough, below 40 degrees Fahrenheit, you can store the cooler outdoors.
• After electricity is restored, take the time to examine all of your perishable items to make sure they have not spoiled. If in doubt, throw it out!
• Before returning food to a refrigerator or freezer, clean and disinfect it thoroughly. You can sanitize the space with one teaspoon of bleach in one quart of water. Do not use more bleach, as it can be toxic. Leave the door open until it dries completely.
• Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for proper usage of a portable generator.
• Only operate generators outdoors to avoid deadly fumes accumulating in the house.
• When using a portable generator, plug appliances directly into the generator.
• Only refuel the generator when the engine is off and cool.
• Never connect a portable generator or alternative energy system (such as wind or solar) to your home’s main electrical panel. This creates the potential for electricity to back feed into electric lines and may result in injury or death to line workers or others.
Liberty Utilities asks customers who are dependent on electricity for life-sustaining equipment to register their information annually by contacting Liberty Utilities at 1-800-206-2300 (Electric & Water). Customer service representatives can provide a form that must be signed by a physician. This information allows Liberty Utilities to have complete knowledge about each customer’s individual needs.
Registration does not guarantee continuous service or priority restoration, nor does it prevent disconnection from service resulting from late or unpaid account balances. Liberty Utilities encourages customers dependent on electricity for medical equipment to have a back-up power source or maintain an up-to-date relocation plan until power is restored.
Develop plans for shelter during an outage before one occurs. Create an action plan to keep elderly friends or relatives, and those medically dependent upon electricity, safe during an outage. Those medically dependent upon electricity should speak to their physician about an emergency battery back-up system.
Create an outage kit that has the following items in it:
• Emergency telephone numbers
• Flashlights
• Battery-operated radio
• Battery-operated clock
• Additional batteries
• Supply of bottled water
• Non-perishable foods that do not need to be heated
• Manually operated can opener
• First-Aid kit and medications
• Blankets and warm, dry clothing
Liberty Utilities installs and maintains these components:
1. The service wire that carries energy from the service line to your home or business
2. The electric meter that measures how much energy you are using
The customer is responsible for these components:
3. The service bracket or pipe riser that protects the connection point for the lines entering your
home or business
4. The weatherhead which keeps rain and other material out of the pipe riser
5. The pipe riser which protects the lines entering the meter base
6. The meter base that protects your connections to the meter
Only a licensed electrician should ever attempt to work on these parts of your electrical
system