Outage Tips

Stay informed:

Follow Chelan PUD on Facebook and Twitter.
Sign up for Chelan County Alerts to receive emergency alerts and severe weather warnings.

In Case of a Power Outage:

Report outages by calling our 24-hour line, 877-783-8123.
If you hear a recording, please stay on the line if you have information about the location of a downed tree, power problem or have a special need.
Unplug electronics and turn off the heat/furnace. Turn off the circuit breaker to your hot water heater. In rare instances, when power is restored, voltage fluctuations can cause damage to these items.
After power is restored, wait ten minutes before turning these items back on. This reduces strain on the system as power is restored to your area and can prevent longer outages.
Leave one porch and/or indoor light on so PUD crews can see when the power has been restored.
Keep your refrigerator and freezer closed as much as possible. Before using any foods, check your refrigerator and freezer thermometers. If the fridge is still at or below 40 °F, or the food has been above 40 °F for two hours or less, it should be safe to eat according to the FDA.
If it’s cold, stay warm by dressing with layers of clothes and a hat. Choose a small room with few windows as your emergency living quarters. Keep the windows, drapes and doors closed.
Conserve water, especially in areas where well pumps and pumping stations may be without power.

Additional Tips for Extended Power Outages

- If water is available (you are not served by a well that needs an electrical pump), turn on faucets and allow a small flow in both the hot and cold.
- Turn off the valves to toilets at base (behind toilet). Flush toilets to get all the water out. Remove any remaining water with plunger. Add 3 to 4 cups of salt mixture (see below) or RV (non-toxic) antifreeze down toilet bowl.
- Pour salt mixture or RV antifreeze into drains of bath/showers and sinks. Put approximately 2 cups per drain in the bath/shower and 1 cup per sink. To make salt mixture, combine 1 cup of salt per 1 gallon of water.
- Freeze two liter-size soda bottles 7/8's full by setting outside. Place one in the refrigerator and one in the freezer. Leave doors closed.
- To protect your hot water tank, write on a piece of tape, "do not turn on until hot water tank is full." Go to circuit breaker panel, turn off the hot water heater circuit switch. Now place tape with message over the switch on the circuit breaker panel. On the water tank, there is a plastic circular handle on the bottom. This is the drain valve. Hook a garden hose up to it. Run the hose outdoors or to a bucket. This is potable (safe) water. Turn the circular handle at the bottom of the water heater to the left to open the water flow and allow the water to drain. It is important to allow the hose to be below the level of the water heater so the water will flow out of the house. Close this valve once the water is drained.
- For those with a well system, drain the water out of the pressure tank.
Visit our Outage Safety page for tips on how to prepare for a power outage, stay safe during an outage, and how to safely use generators.

Prepare for emergencies, like storms or fires, by making a plan and building an emergency kit. Prepare your home for winter weather.

If you live in the Upper Valley, visit our Fire Safety Outage Resource page for tips and local resources to prepare for a fire safety outage.
Click here to learn more about how the PUD restores power after an outage.

Related Pages

Outage Tips

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In Case of a Power Outage:

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