Staff Report
Pacific Gas and Electric Company is urging its customers to plan for power outages during winter storms to maximize their safety and comfort.
Among PG&E’s storm safety tips are:
- Assume that any downed power line is energized and extremely dangerous, and stay away from it. Report damaged power lines or electrical equipment by calling 911 immediately and then notify PG&E at 1-800-743-5002.
- During a power outage, use battery-operated flashlights, not candles, due to the risk of fire. If candles are necessary,keep them away from drapes, lampshades and small children. Do not leave candles unattended.
- Customers with generators should make sure they are properly installed by a licensed electrician in a well-ventilated area. Improperly installed generators pose a significant danger to crews working on power lines.
- If you experience an outage, unplug or turn off all electrical appliances to avoid overloading circuits and to prevent fire hazards when power is restored. Simply leave a single lamp on to alert you when power returns. Turn your appliances back on one at a time when conditions return to normal.
For the latest information on power restoration, customers can call PG&E’s outage information line at 1-800-743-5002. Updates are also available through the company’s online Electric Outage Map. Customers can also log in to their account and sign up to receive outage alerts through email,text or phone.
Visit www.pge.com/stormsafety for more.
