For Western Carolina Power customers outages are most common during extremely windy or wintry weather circumstances, though they can also occur due to other reasons.

According to Ready.gov, a power outage has the potential to:

• Disrupt communications, water and transportation.
• Close retail businesses, grocery stores, gas stations, ATMs, banks and other services.
• Cause food spoilage and water contamination.
• Prevent use of medical devices.

In any case, it always best to be prepared in the case of an emergency or extended outage.

Be Prepared

Have an emergency outage kit and supplies accessible and easy to find in the dark.

• Flashlight with extra batteries
• Battery-powered radio with extra batteries
• Stock up on canned and non-perishable foods that require no cooking, baby supplies, and pet food
• Manual can opener
• Bottled water; plan on a gallon of water per person per day
• First aid supplies and medicine
• Candles and matches (never leave candles unattended, and keep them away from combustible materials)
• Extra fuses
• Clock, either battery-powered or wind-up
• Extra cash; bank machines may be out of service
• If you have a laptop computer, it’s a good idea to have a spare, fully charged battery on hand
• Keep your vehicle’s tank full in case there is a situation that requires you to travel or seek shelter

When the Power Goes Out

• Watch for downed power lines. Stay back and consider all lines energized. Call 911 and WCP at 828-227-3111 if you see a downed power line.
• Report an outage by sending us a message through the Contact Us form or by calling 828-227-3111. Please note that if you call after hours, you will be routed to WCU Steam Plant. They will relay the information to WCP.
• WCP utilizes an Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) to monitor all active meters on our system. This means that our on-call crews are immediately notified of any service disruption. Even if you are unable to call or report the outage, our crews are already aware and working to restore power quickly and safely.
• Most power outages are resolved quickly. If the outage is prolonged, information will be posted on our main page.
• Turn on your battery-powered radio for news.
• Turn off lights, heating and cooling systems to prevent overloading circuits as power is restored.
• Unplug some of your major appliances. Appliances can create a drain or power surge when the power comes back on which could harm sensitive equipment.
• Avoid opening your refrigerator and freezer, food inside should stay cold for hours if the door remains closed.
• DO NOT USE kerosene heaters, BBQs, charcoal, natural gas range, or any outdoor type heater inside. They create poisonous carbon monoxide that could kill. A regular wood stove or fireplace is appropriate to use for heat.
• Dress warmly (if applicable). Wear layers; sweater, jacket, gloves and a knit hat. If your home gets too cold, head to a heated shelter.
• Use thick blankets or sleeping bags to keep warm.
• Identify the warmest room in your home and stay there.
• Seal drafty exterior doors with rolled towels or pillows.
• If there is no sunlight, close blinds and curtains. Use blankets or towels to help seal drafty windows if curtains are unavailable.
• Only use a properly installed generator that disconnects your power from the main power grid when it is operating.
• Drive carefully; traffic signals could be out as well. Consider each intersection to be a four-way stop and drive defensively. Make sure you know how to operate your automatic garage door opener manually (refer to product manual).
• A small flow of water from your tap will help keep your pipes from freezing.
• Check on neighbors who may have medical conditions or use medical machinery that operates on electricity.

When Power is Restored

• Have you checked your circuit breaker panel? If power has been restored to your area but your home is still without electricity, check your circuit breaker panel first. If everything looks good but you still don’t have power, call our office at 828-227-3111.
• Give the electrical system 10 to 15 minutes to recover before reconnecting electric appliances.
• Check for electrical damage inside your home, such as frayed wires, sparks or the smell of burning insulation. If you find damage to your meter box or weather head, don’t turn your power on until an electrician inspects your system and makes necessary repairs.
• Check refrigerator and freezer for signs of spoilage.