What to Do if the Power Goes Out

• Wait awhile to see if power comes back on. Outages often result from switching or normal maintenance and may last only minutes. Report a longer outage with a single call to KUB. (Don't call 911, a line reserved only for police, fire, and medical emergencies.)

• Call KUB at 1-800-250-8068 or 865-524-2911, 24 hours a day, to report an outage. This is the quickest way to notify KUB of your outage. You may use your touch-tone phone to send an outage report to dispatchers by using KUB's automated report system, or you can hold for the next available representative.

• When you call, have this information handy: The name and number on your KUB account, your phone number, street address, and outage details of downed trees or power lines.

• Keep emergency supplies on hand such as batteries, flashlights, a battery-operated radio, nonperishable food items, bottled water, and a cell phone or single line phone (cordless phones do not work without electricity).

You can better cope with any of these emergencies if you know what to do. Use your emergency supplies and the guidelines below to help you handle a power outage.

In The Dark
If it's nighttime, locate your flashlights. You will be able to see what you're doing, and circumstances will seem less threatening. Keep any flames away from walls, furniture, curtains, children, and pets.

Neighbors
Look to see if their lights are off. If not, the problem might be confined to your home.

Telephone
Try it. It may be working because the telephone system is operated on a separate electrical circuit. Remember, however, that cordless phones operate off the electrical system and will not work if the power is off.

Fuses and Breakers
Check them. If they are okay and your telephone is working, call KUB. Give your address and details of how long the power has been off.

Warning
Stay away from downed power lines and trees with power lines touching them. Make sure that no one, especially children, goes near them. Even lines that look harmless can be very dangerous. Just note the location and call KUB immediately.

Electric Appliances
Turn off all the appliances that were on at the time of the outage, especially heat pumps, air-conditioners, and electric heating. This will prevent an overload on the system when the power comes back on. Leave a light on so you'll know when service is back. Remember to turn the systems back on when the power is restored.

Information
Turn on your battery-operated portable radio and listen for information about weather conditions or an update from KUB. If possible, call your neighbors and find out if they have information about the emergency.

Report a Power Outage By Calling 1-800-250-8068 or (865) 524-2911