Ask the Expert: Be prepared for power outages
Ken Griffin, PGE Business Services Team
Q: How should my business prepare for a power outage?
A: Great question! PGE takes many steps to bring you safe, reliable power and help prevent power outages. But severe winter storms can sometimes knock out even the most reliable of electrical systems. If that happens, PGE crews are prepared to respond instantly. We want to help all of our customers to be prepared, too — at home and on the job.
Lights, kit, action
Do you and your staff know what to do if the power goes out, beyond calling PGE to report the problem? It’s helpful help to do a practice run-through and make sure key personnel know the location of electrical panels and how to shut off equipment. Do you have emergency lighting? And have you put together a workplace outage kit?
Your outage kit should include:
- Flashlights
- Battery-powered radio (to listen to updates)
- Battery-powered clock
- Emergency phone numbers, including PGE outage numbers
- Extra batteries
- Bottled water (if you rely on electricity to pump water)
Plan for equipment
It pays to plan ahead. Before a power outage, learn how to bypass electronic door locks. If your business uses cash registers, think of a non-electric alternative to use if the power goes out. And make sure computers have good quality surge protectors and automatic backup systems.
During a power outage, turn off motorized equipment at the electrical panel. Don’t try to operate machinery if ventilation, safety or fire suppression systems are down. And if you have refrigeration equipment, keep doors closed to minimize loss.
Consider backup power
PGE always works hard to minimize power disruptions for our customers. Yet for some companies, a backup power system might be a smart investment. You need to weigh the costs against potential losses. Our Business Services Team can help you explore this issue.
For more outage information, and to download a brochure, visit the PGE Brochures section of our Web site.