• Downed power lines are dangerous. They can cause serious injury or death. We recommend staying at least 50 feet away from downed lines. 
• If you see a downed line, assume it is energized. Do not touch the line or anything touching the line. Move away by shuffling with small steps, keeping your feet together and on the ground.
• Do not drive over downed lines. If your vehicle comes in contact with a downed line, stay inside and attempt to get help but direct others to stay away from your car.
• If you must get out, jump clear of the vehicle without touching the ground and the vehicle at the same time.  Don't run away--shuffle at least 50 feet away from downed line with feet together and on the ground.
• If you see a downed line or witness an accident involving a downed line, stay at least 50 feet away and call us at (888) 582-2176.

• In case of an electrical fire, unplug the faulty appliance or turn off the power, if possible. Never throw water on an electrical fire. 
• If it is small, put it out with a multipurpose fire extinguisher, class "C" electric fire extinguisher, or baking soda.

• Avoid trees, poles and other tall objects. Go to low ground and crouch down if caught outdoors.
• Stay out of the water. Never go swimming or boating during a storm. If you are in the water, get out as quickly as possible.

• Keep flashlights ready and in an easy place to find. A flashlight in the bottom of a closet may be hard to find in the dark.
• If your phone is cordless, it relies on power to work. To assure phone service, have one phone that doesn’t need power or keep extra charged phone batteries or a charged power bank available.
• If you have an electric garage door opener, know how to open the garage door manually.
• Avoid opening your refrigerator or freezer. The contents should be good for at least 24 hours if the door is kept closed.
• When the power goes out, try to remember what was turned on at the time and turn those items off. It's especially important to turn off anything that has a heating element, such as the electric range, an iron, or a toaster oven. They could cause a fire when the power is restored. Turning switches off not only helps prevent fires; it will help us restore power faster. If too many items are on when the power is restored, the electric system could be overloaded and go out again.
• If you need power for medical reasons it is important to have a plan in case of an outage. Be prepared to go someplace that has power or to the hospital.
• If you use a portable generator it must be connected through an approved transfer switch that is isolated from Benton PUD's system. Please call us if you have questions about generators. 
• Never use ovens, barbecues, portable heaters, or generators indoors as they produce toxic fumes that can be deadly.
• Keep blankets and other flammable materials away from lit candles.
• If you do have an outage, call Benton PUD at (888) 582-2176. Please do not call 9-1-1 to report it. 9-1-1 should only be used to report an emergency.
• Sign up for SmartHub text alert and email notifications to get quick updates on outages related to your service location(s).

• Flashlights and batteries, glow-in-the-dark sticks, and/or battery-operated lantern
• Candles and matches
• Portable radio and batteries
• Power bank to charge your phone
• Windup clock
• Mylar blanket
• Hat and gloves
• Can opener and food that doesn't require refrigeration
• Water - 1 gallon per person per day

Outlets

• Check for outlets that have loose fitting plugs, which can overheat and lead to fire.
• Replace any missing or broken wall plates.
• Make sure there are safety covers on all unused outlets that are accessible to children.

Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs)

• GFCIs quickly shut off power when problems occur to minimize electrical shock hazards.
• Test GFCIs regularly according to the manufacturer's instructions to make sure they are working properly.

Plugs

• Make sure the plugs fit the outlets. Never remove the ground pin (the third prong) to make a three-prong fit a two-conductor outlet; this could lead to an electrical shock. NEVER FORCE A PLUG INTO AN OUTLET IF IT DOESN'T FIT.
• Avoid overloading outlets with too many appliances.
• Pull by the plug, not the cord when unplugging an appliance.

Cords

• Make sure cords are in good condition--not frayed or cracked.
• Make sure cords are placed out of traffic areas.
• Cords should never be nailed or stapled to the wall, baseboard, or to another object.
• Do not place cords under carpets or rugs or rest any furniture on them.

Extension Cords

• Check to see that extension cords are not overloaded.
• Extension cords should only be used on a temporary basis; they are not intended as permanent household wiring.
• Make sure extension cords have safety closures to help prevent young children from shock hazards and mouth burn injuries.

• Check the wattage of all bulbs in light fixtures to make sure they are the correct wattage for the size of the fixture.
• Replace bulbs that have a higher wattage than recommended. If you don't know the correct wattage, check with the manufacturer of the fixture.
• Make sure bulbs are screwed in securely; loose bulbs may overheat.

• Circuit breakers and fuses should be the correct size current rating for their circuit. If you do not know the correct size, have an electrician identify and label the size to be used.
• Always replace a fuse with the same size fuse.
• If a fuse "blows", unplug the appliance causing the problem. Shut off the main power switch on the fuse box. Replace the burned fuse with a new one of the power rating, then turn on the main power switch.
• Always keep a flashlight handy. Stand on a dry surface when touching a fuse or breaker box.
• Never use a penny or aluminum foil to replace a fuse.

Appliances

• If an appliance repeatedly blows a fuse, trips a circuit breaker, or if it has given you a shock, unplug it and have it repaired or replaced
• Never use any electric appliance in the tub or shower
• Never insert objects into an appliance without disconnecting it.
• Unplug appliances when not in use.

Water and Electricity Don't Mix!

• Don't leave plugged in appliances where they might fall in contact with water.
• If a plugged-in appliance falls into water, NEVER reach in to pull it out - even if it's turned off. First turn off the power source at the panel board and then unplug the appliance.
• If you have an appliance that has gotten wet, don't use it until it has been checked by a qualified repairperson.

Entertainment/Computer Equipment

• Don't leave plugged in appliances where they might fall in contact with water.
• If a plugged-in appliance falls into water, NEVER reach in to pull it out - even if it's turned off. First turn off the power source at the panel board and then unplug the appliance.
• If you have an appliance that has gotten wet, don't use it until it has been checked by a qualified repairperson.

• Space heaters are meant to supply supplemental heat. Keep space heaters at least 3 feet away from any combustible materials such as bedding, clothing, draperies, furniture, and rugs.
• Don't use in rooms where children are unsupervised.
• Remember to turn off and unplug when not in use.

• Electric-powered mowers and other tools should not be used in the rain, on wet grass, or in wet conditions.
• Inspect power tools and electric lawn mowers before each use for frayed power cords, broken plugs, and cracked or broken housings. Stop using it immediately if damaged. Repair it or replace it. Always use an extension cord marked for outdoor use and rated for the power needs of your tools. Remember to unplug all portable power tools when not in use.
• Always watch out for overhead wires and power lines when using a ladder, pool skimmer, or any long object. Make sure tools are approved for outdoor use. They are made with heavier wiring, special insulation, and three-way grounded plugs.  
• Do not cut or trim branches that are in contact with power lines. Call Benton PUD if concerned about the power lines near or in your trees. 
• Teach children to stay away from power lines, substations, and transformers. 
• Be careful to keep drones, Mylar balloons, kites, and other flying objects far away from substations, power lines and other electrical equipment. Never attempt to retrieve anything from a substation or power line. This can cause serious harm to you and those around you. If you need help retrieving anything from a substation, call our Outage Line at (888) 582-2176.

• Test every circuit and conductor before you touch it.
• Use personal protective equipment (PPE) as a last line of defense in case something goes wrong.
• Be sure you are properly trained and qualified for the job.
• Work on electrical equipment and conductors only when deenergized, unless procedures and safeguards have been established to ensure zero exposure for the worker and other people in the area.
• Lockout/tagout and ground (where appropriate) before working on equipment.
• Treat deenergized electrical equipment and conductors as energized until lockout/tagout, test, and ground procedures (where appropriate) are implemented.
• Wear protective clothing and equipment and use insulated tools in areas where there are possible electrical hazards.
• Deenergize and visibly guard (where possible) whenever contact with uninsulated overhead power lines is possible.
• Check and double check safety regulations when a ladder or parts of any vehicle or mechanical equipment structure will be elevated near energized overhead power lines. Call your local electric utility for assistance. People standing on the ground may be particularly vulnerable to possible injury.
• Verify location of all buried or embedded electrical circuits before digging or cutting.
• Determine the reason that a fuse operated or circuit breaker tripped before replacing or resetting.
• Know where your overcurrent devices are (i.e. circuit breakers and fuses) so they can be easily and quickly reached in case of emergency.
• When replacing lamps and bulbs, verify that the replacement matches fixture requirements.

• When you're working with irrigation pipes, remember to look up, be aware, and watch for power lines. 
• Never stand water pipes on end when working anywhere near overhead power lines. Pass this information on to people you work with to help them avoid dangerous injuries.

• Protect flexible cords and cables from physical damage. Check cords for cut, broken, or cracked insulation.
• Keep slack in flexible cords to prevent tension on electrical terminals.
• Make sure the insulating qualities of a splice are equal to or greater than the original cord.
• Extension cords are for temporary use. Install permanent wiring when use is no longer temporary.
• Verify that all three-wire tools and equipment are grounded.
• Ground exposed parts of fixed equipment that could be energized.
• Use non-conductive tools whenever possible.
• Always double check the operation of your voltage testers by testing a live circuit.