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Question: Can you provide some general safety tips?

Answer:

Yes. Below are some general safety tips to keep you family as safe as possible:

  • If you spot a downed  power line, keep away and call us immediately at 1-800-895-4999. All downed power lines, even if they’re not moving or sparking, are dangerous and should never be approached.
  • Establish a backup-power or temporary relocation plan if someone in your home is dependent on electric-powered medical equipment.
  • Use caution if traffic lights and railroad crossing signals are not operating.
  • Check on elderly neighbors or relatives.
  • Remember household pets during outages. Do you have an electric fish-tank pump or invisible fencing?
  • Do not forget your home security alarm system when an outage occurs. Do you have instructions on how to reset it when power resumes?
  • Turn off air conditioners or major appliances that were running when the outage occurred to help avoid a sudden surge of power when service is restored.

Be Prepared:

Have an "Outage Kit" (kept in an accessible location) that includes:

  • Xcel Energy phone numbers - 1-800-895-1999 for residential or 1-800-481-4700 for business. 
  • Order a copy of “What Should You Do If Your Power Goes Out?” by calling our customer service group and then keep it handy.
  • A phone that does not require electricity (cordless phones do not work without electricity).
  • Flashlights
  • Batteries
  • Battery-powered radio or television
  • Non-electric alarm clock
  • Manufacturer’s instructions on how to manually open power-operated doors.
  • Bottled water and nonperishable food
  • Manual can opener
  • Extension cords (for partial outages)
  • First aid kit

Computer tips:

  • Protect your computer from power surges with proper electrical hook-ups.
  • Have a battery back-up for your computer for use during outages.
  • If you work out of your home, ensure you have power, lighting and safety options available during an outage.

After the storm:

  • Replenish your supply of batteries.
  • Reset clocks and other electronic devices, such as security alarm systems.
  • Should your outage have been caused by a severe thunder storm that caused flooding, please keep in mind that backup-power may be necessary for use of a sump pump for water removal.















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