Power outages occur for a variety of reasons. In most cases outages are
the result of lightning striking electrical equipment. Other causes are tree limbs falling on electric wires and equipment malfunction. Because of severe weather and heavy woods in Glocester, power outages are not
uncommon in our town.
Following are power outage guidelines recommended by Narragansett Electric:
Check your neighborhood. If you're the only one without power, see whether your main fuse is blown or
your main circuit breaker is tripped. If you don't find a problem here, look outside to the service wire connected to your house. It it is down, don't go near it since it may be charged with electricity. Instead,
call Narragansett Electric immediately.
Notify your local Narragansett Electric Office that your power is out. If you can't get through, chances
are many other people have lost power and the switchboard is busy. Dial again until you get an answer.
Turn off or disconnect all major appliances such as washers and water heaters. Leaving these
appliances on could create a sudden surge of demand when the power returns and this could delay restoration efforts.
Leave on just a few lights so you'll know when power has been restored.
Stay tuned to a portable radio to get information on progress in restoring your power.
Keep shades down, curtains closed, and doors shut to keep the heat inside your home.
Use caution and make sure you have plenty of ventilation if you're cooking with alternate fuel. A
camping stove, a fireplace, or sterno can can also be used. Do not use charcoal indoors.
Fill the bathtub with water to use for cooking and washing.
Let faucets drip slowly but continuously to keep pipes from freezing.
Suggested supplies to keep on hand include flashlight and batteries, portable radio, paper plates and
napkins, plastic utensils, matches, manual can opener, blankets, sterno, and candles.
To avoid the inconvenience of long-term outage, you might want to consider purchasing a generator.
