After any big storm or natural disaster, its hard to know just what to do in any given situation. There are specific safety precautions that need to be remembered, especially with a commodity as powerful and potentially dangerous as electricity. Below are some commonly asked questions and their answers, which we hope will help you deal with emergency or other electrical situations, should they happen.

Q. What do I do if my power goes out?
First, check the main breaker. If you are in a mobile home, check the breaker located below your meter outside. Push it off, then back on. If power is not restored, call YEC.

Q. Why have my lights gone out, but my power still works?
Check for water saturation of your ceilings and light fittings inside and outside. If wet, call us immediately. If there is no obvious damage to your light fittings, turn off all but one light. Check the lighting circuit's fuse or circuit breaker operation at your switchboard. Turn off your main switch and replace the fuse. Turn the main switch again. If the fuse blows, call YEC.

Q. How do I know if my appliances have been affected?
If you receive a tingling sensation from any electrical appliances turn off the electricity immediately. Do not make contact with or let anyone else near the suspected appliance and call YEC.

Q. Is it possible that my electrical supply seems weaker than normal, and why?
Lights being dimmer than usual, hot plates slow to cook, and motors failing to start are all indicative that there might be a problem in the high voltage system. If you observe any of these in your home, turn appliances off and unplug them. Leave a minimum of lights on (such as a fluorescent) and call YEC.

Q. My electricity supply seems to fluctuate. What should I do?
If you notice unusual periodic variations in the normal brightness of your lights, sometimes very bright, sometimes dull, call us. These are symptoms of a potentially hazardous situation. Turn off all your motors and appliances, and leave a minimum of lights on.