What Should I Do If My Power Is Off?

First, check your home’s breaker panel or fuse panel and any outdoor disconnects to make sure the outage is not due to a tripped breaker or blown fuse.
Next, check to see if your neighbor’s power is off and contact your local EMC. This will help determine if the problem exists inside your home or is a result of a power outage on EMC lines.

Do I Need To Call More Than Once?

Once you report the outage, it is not necessary to call again. Be assured that crews are doing everything possible to restore power as soon as possible. Unnecessary calls prevent those who have not reported their outage from getting through or generate multiple outage tickets for the same location.

What should I do if someone in my home depends on equipment powered by electricity?

Have a contingency plan in place for patients who have a medical necessity for electricity. This includes backup power, extra medical supplies or an alternate location until the outage is over. Make sure supplies of prescription drugs are adequate and have a first-aid kit.

When I see crews in my neighborhood, should I stop them and let them know my power is out?

No. Your EMC is aware of the outage after you place the initial outage call. Repeating the information to crews in the field only slows the restoration process.

How long will it take to restore power?

It isn’t possible to estimate exactly when power will be restored. Service will be restored as quickly and safely as possible. Crews going into an area often never know whether it’s going to take an hour or several hours, depending on the level of damage to the electric system. When severe weather blankets an area, it may not be possible to restore power immediately to an entire system.

Can EMCs bring in extra crews to assist with power restoration?

Yes. The EMCs work closely together during storms to provide help to EMCs that have been hardest hit. Through the statewide Disaster Response Plan, Georgia EMC coordinates crew assistance for those EMCs who request help. Through this arrangement, it is common for an EMC to double the size of its crews during major outages.