Power Outage

 What to Do During a Power Outage


Safety Tips

  • Only use a flashlight for emergency lighting. Never use candles!
  • Turn off or unplug appliances and electrical equipment you were using when the power went out.
  • Do not run a generator inside a home or garage.
  • If you use a generator, connect the equipment you want to power directly to the outlets on the generator. Do not connect a generator to a home's electrical system.
  • Listen to local radio and television for updated information.

Actions You Should Take

Check outside street lights or with neighbors to see if the power outage extends beyond your home. If it does, call City of Tipp City Utilities Department at 937-667-8424 (Monday through Thursday from 7:30 am to 5 pm); for after-hours and on weekends, call 844-287-9792 and notify us that you are experiencing a power outage. Information you provide can often help us locate the problem and restore power quicker. Please do not call 911 unless there is a life-threatening emergency.

If the outage seems to only affect your home, check your circuit breakers or fuses, making certain that your main breaker and all sub-breakers are all the way in the "On" position and not halfway. Should a breaker be in the halfway position, switch it all the way to the "Off" position and wait several seconds before moving it to the "On" position. If the outage persists, call City of Tipp City Utilities Department at 937-667-8424 (Monday through Thursday from 7:30 am to 5 pm); for after-hours and on weekends, call 844-287-9792.

Check on your neighbors, especially if they are elderly, alone, have medical conditions, or use medical machinery that operates on electricity.

Leave at least one light turned on, so you'll know when your power returns.

Turn off or disconnect appliances, equipment (like air conditioners) or electronics you were using when the power went out. When power comes back on, it may come back with momentary "surges" or "spikes" that can damage equipment such as computers and motors in appliances. When power is restored, reconnect and turn on your appliances one at a time. This reduces the chance of a sudden overload on your home's electrical system.

Leave the doors to your refrigerator and freezer closed to keep your food from spoiling.