Staying Safe During an Outage
During an outage it is important to follow any instructions you get from state and local officials. But also, follow your instincts. If it’s still stormy and dark, stay inside. If it looks dangerous, steer clear! Below are some tips to follow when the power is out.
Report Outages or Downed Line
While we do our best to stay on top of storm damage, reporting outages and downed lines will help us continue to work efficiently to restore power. Report outages or downed lines to 1-800-835-9586. Our phones are staffed 24/7/365 and we always have linemen on call. You can also use our SmartHub app on your phone or tablet to report outages and to sign up for notifications that will keep you updated on restoration efforts
Keep Your Distance from Downed Power Lines
Always assume every line is energized and dangerous. If you’re in a vehicle and downed wires are on the car or across the road, stay in your car until emergency crews arrive. Don’t touch anything that might be in contact with a downed line, like a tree limb.
Stay Informed
You can get updates on outages and estimated times of restoration through our automated phone system. We will also often post on Facebook, and Twitter when an outage is significant. Our live outage map is also a great way to see what's going on across our system
Storm response efforts
In the event of a storm, our crews go to work immediately, keeping in mind that th
eir safety comes first. The first step is to restore power to as many people as possible. We do this by first restoring power to transmission lines and substations. Next, our crews work on restoring power along main circuit lines. In rural areas, these lines stretch for miles along roads into rural areas and across fields. Taps that lead off the main circuit lines are repaired next, and, finally, crews repair individual service lines to homes.
Homeowners have a responsibility for repairing the equipment and wires that interface at their home with our system, such as their service entrance. Be assured, all employees work long hours during large outages and they too, want power restored as quickly as possible. Safety and well-being is a concern for our employees. Laws necessitate and regulate that employees get regular sleep and meals during major outage operations. Heartland employees and our after-hour call center are available to provide dispatching that operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
All employees are utilized during crisis situations. We have agreements in place with other Kansas utilities, cooperatives and contractors for mutual assistance in times of crisis. Manpower and materials are transferred rapidly to our area when needed.
