If your electricity is interrupted:
- Turn off major appliances such as heat pumps,
water heaters and stoves. Unplug other appliances such as TVs, stereos, microwaves and computers. This will prevent damage to appliances and possible overloads to the company’s system when power is restored. Post a list of contents on your freezer door to minimize the number of times you open it. - Leave one lamp or light on so you will be able to recognize when power is restored.
- If using portable or camp-type stoves or lanterns
for cooking and lighting, ensure that the area is adequately ventilated.
After the storm
- Listen to Q102 on your car or battery-powered radio for regular news and weather updates. Don’t rely on your neighbors to report your outage. Call Dominion at 1-866-DOM-HELP(1-866-366-4357).
- Stay away from fallen wires, flooded areas and debris. Treat all fallen wires and anything touching them as though they are energized.
- Follow safe operating procedures for generators.
Never operate one inside your home or in an enclosed space, such as a garage. - Do not connect portable generators directly to the electrical system of your home. Electricity could flow backward onto Dominion's power lines and endanger lives. Either have a qualified electrician perform the work or plug appliances directly into the generator using the proper-sized extension cords.
- Exhaust fumes contain carbon monoxide and can be deadly, so run your generator outside with proper ventilation. Store the fuel for your generator safely.
- Visually inspect the area around your electricity meter. If you detect or suspect any damage, call the company toll-free at 1-866-DOM-HELP(1-866-366-4357).
