SMECO Tips to Prepare for Power Outages

As the winter chill begins to sneak under your doors, you will want to take steps to prepare for possible weather-related power outages.

Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative (SMECO), with its outage restoration policy, monitors weather forecasts to always be ready with co-op crews to restore power if outages occur. The goal: Make repairs that will restore service to the most people in the least amount of time. Transmission lines and substations are repaired first, followed by distribution lines that feed neighborhoods. Tap lines and individual service lines are then repaired to restore power to customers who may still be without electricity.

Tips to prepare for power interruptions:

• If someone in your household depends on electricity to operate life support systems, make plans for alternate sources of power or alternate lodging. Call SMECO’s special needs information number: 1-866-524-9402. In addition, check with your local fire department, which may offer temporary shelter.
• Keep flashlights and fresh batteries on hand.
• Stock nonperishable foods and keep a manual can opener handy.
• Do not stock your refrigerator or freezer with foods that may perish during a power outage.
• If you plan to use a charcoal or gas grill for cooking, keep the grill outdoors.
• If your water at home is supplied by a well, store extra water in clean jugs, bathtubs, or laundry tubs.
• Keep a battery-powered radio with fresh batteries and stay tuned to local news bulletins and weather reports.
• Keep fresh batteries in your smoke detectors.
• Make sure that you have a standard phone available. Cordless phones do not work without electricity. If you use a cell phone, an auto adapter may be needed to recharge your phone.
• If you plan to use a portable generator, use extension cords to connect what you want to power directly to the generator. Place your generator outside, not in a crawl space or in a basement.
• Keep your automobile gas tank above half full.
• As in preparing for any other emergency, maintain a supply of cash. Credit cards and ATM machines may not work if the power is out.

If your power goes out:

• Call SMECO’s Outage Hotline at 1-877-74-SMECO or 1-877-747-6326.
• Turn off all the major appliances in your home, especially the heat pump. This will prevent damage to the appliances once the power is restored. Then, try not to turn everything back on at once; turn on appliances gradually so the electric demand does not jump suddenly.
• Make sure the oven and stove are off to prevent fires if the power comes back on while you’re away.
• Open the freezer and refrigerator as little as possible. This will help food stay fresh longer.
• Never touch downed power lines or attempt to remove trees from power lines. Please report downed power lines to SMECO immediately by calling 1-888-440-3311.