Restoring power during inclement weather or after a large accident can be a big job. NELPCO maintains a 24-hour, 365 day-a-year on-call crews so if you should lose power, be assured we’re working as quickly and safely as possible to get your lights back on.
Outages that occur in severe weather or that last for an extended period of time can place a heavy burden on the system at the moment power is restored. To prevent an overload on the system and possibly another outage, take these steps:
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Turn off every inside light except one.
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Turn your air conditioner/heater off.
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Make sure your kitchen range is off, both the surface and the oven.
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Turn off all unnecessary appliances.
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Avoid opening the refrigerator door as much as possible.
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If the power is out for less than 4 hours, then the food in your refrigerator will be safe to consume. If the power is out for longer than 4 hours, pack milk and other dairy products, meat, fish, eggs, and spoilable leftovers into a cooler or ice chest surrounded by ice.
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Avoid opening the freezer door. A full, freestanding freezer will keep food at freezing temperatures about 2 days; a half-full freezer about 1 day. For more information about food safety during and after a power outage, call the USDA Food Safety Hotline at 1-800-535-4555.
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If you see a downed power line, STAY AWAY!! And call Northeast Louisiana Power at once!
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Leave your porch light on so NELPCO workers will know when your power has been restored.
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When power comes back on, slowly switch your appliances and lights back on and gradually return your thermostat to its normal setting.
