Outage Information
Hot Line to Report Outages (866) 480-REMC (7362)
In order to provide the best possible service to you, we need your correct home or cell phone number that may be used to report an outage. We can’t stress this enough, because the right numbers will minimize outage times. The new outage management system is map-based and will allow us to restore power even more efficiently by providing data that can help locate and identify the problem. By tracking outage calls received, the system recognizes multiple outages and predicts what portion of the line is off. We’ll actually be able to see the electric lines affected and will be able to send crews out to restore power faster.
Because your phone number is our connection to you, it’s critical that we have up-to-date phone numbers for your account. The current number we have on file appears on your electric bill each month. Please verify this number, and if it’s not correct, please call us at 812-246-3316 or 800-462-6988, or send an e-mail to ccremc@theremc.com. Thank you for providing this information as soon as possible!
What You Need to Know When the Power Goes Out Unexpectedly
Power Outage Checklist
Power Outage Checklist prepares you for an outage, during an outage and what to do when the power comes back on.
811 is a federally-mandated national "Call Before You Dig" phone number designated by the FCC to eliminate the confusion of multiple "Call Before You Dig" numbers.
One easy phone call to 811 quickly begins the process of getting underground utility lines marked. Local One Call Center personnel will then notify affected utility companies, who will send crews to mark underground lines for free.
Knowing where underground utility lines are buried before each digging project begins helps to prevent injury, expense and penalties. The depth of utility lines may vary and multiple utility lines may exist in one area. Simple digging jobs can damage utility lines and can disrupt vital services to an entire neighborhood, harm those who dig and result in expensive fines and repair costs. Marked lines show those who dig the approximate location of underground lines and help prevent undesired consequences.
Those who dig are aware of "Call Before You Dig" services, but often make risky assumptions about where utility lines are buried or when they should call. 811 will let diggers know what's below when they call before they dig.
Are you willing to pay your utility bills as well as those of someone else? Most of us would say no, but with utility theft on the rise, you are doing just that. The reality is, you are paying the electric, gas, water and cable bills for a number of people who decided to let you pay their bills while they steal and enjoy services for free. Utilities nationwide are combating this $6 billion crime, and unfortunately, the losses are passed on to honest customers.
Theft of electricity not only puts your family's pocketbook, but also your personal safety at risk. Tampering with an electric meter box renders it unsafe and unstable. The thief puts himself and any neighbors, children, or family pets in the area in danger of potentially fatal electric shocks, power surges, sparks and fire from the exposed 240 volts. For this reason, it should not be enough to simply pay back the dollar value of what was stolen and then forget it. In order to stop repeat offenders, utilities must take appropriate action on your behalf to see that utility thieves are prosecuted to the full extent of the law and to protect honest customers from harm.
A few clues of meter tampering are the following: a broken seal or wire on the meter; any unusual attachment to a meter such as a stick, wire, jumper cable or magnet; the meter appears altered; an individual bragging about bypassing the meter to lower the power bill.
If you suspect someone is stealing electricity, contact Clark County REMC. You do not have to give your name. You could help the co-op reduce costs for all consumers and prevent innocent people from being hurt by electrical shock.
Help Catch Power Thieves!
What you can do:
- Look for clues
- Contact Clark County REMC anonymously
- What the co-op does:
- Verifies theft
- Reports theft to police
- Case is turned over to court system for prosecution
Remember: When people steal electricity from your cooperative, they're stealing from you!
Summer heat brings swimming pool use, increased energy use and the drying of the soil. This combination, in conjunction with the non-conductive nature of modern swimming pools, can lead to shock problems around the pool.
This situation can be very complex and difficult to resolve, particularly with regard to existing pools.
It helps to understand that an electric potential (voltage) may exist between the "grounded" conductors of an electric system and local "earth" ground. This potential is most frequently referred to as "stray voltage," but is also called tingle voltage and neutral-to-earth voltage (NEV). It is generally thought that grounded conductors are at the same potential as "earth" ground, but due to many complex issues, this is rarely the case. Adding grounding electrodes seldom has a beneficial effect on this voltage: there are numerous grounding electrodes already on the electric system at every service drop (meter), transformer and most electric poles.
Neutral-to-earth voltage is brought into the pool vicinity by the equipment grounding conductor that is connected to the pool circulation pump and pool equipotential bonding grid required by the 2008 National Electrical Code(NEC), Article 680-26(B). Non-conductive materials used in the construction of modern pools generally prevent the pool water from coming into electrical contact with the grounded conductors of the electric system through such obvious means as metallic plumbing or steel reinforced concrete sides.
Consequently, pool water becomes bonded to the local "earth" potential by water seepage through the liner. Paradoxically, the concrete deck, metal coping, stanchions, and other metallic fittings are brought to the potential of the electric grounding system via the connection of the equipotential bonding grid to an equipment grounding conductor either directly or indirectly.
The most adequate solution to "stray voltage" is to ensure that all conductive items included in or on the pool structure are bonded together in a common equipotential bonding grid. The pool water must also be effectively bonded to the equipotential bonding grid to eliminate a voltage differential between it and the bonded surroundings. The 2008 edition of the NEC now requires an intentional bond (electrode) in contact with the pool water (Art. 680.26(C)). The equipotential bonding grid needs to include the decking or soil in some manner for several feet away from the edge of the pool coping.
Some common problems encountered involve the degradation or incompleteness of the equipotential bonding grid around the pool. Most noteworthy of these is the lack of electrical bonding to each individual coping section around the pool deck edge. Robust, redundant mechanical connections or exothermic welding are necessary.
The pool environment is fairly corrosive to metals, particularly aluminum and steel, due to moisture, galvanic action, chloride salts and the alkalinity of concrete. Additionally, concrete settlement creates breaks in the equipotential bonding grid allowing differing potentials to develop around the pool. The importance of an adequately designed, electrically and mechanically sound equipotential bonding grid cannot be overemphasized in NEV mitigation.
The NEC lists the "minimum" requirements needed for the practical safeguarding of persons and property. It is not intended as a design specification. Experience has shown the "minimum" requirements do not adequately resolve NEV. Redundancy and adequacy of bonding points is important. Equipotential bonding is not an area to cut costs. Once the pool is built, it is difficult and expensive to retrofit, replace, or repair shortcomings. Other perceived remedies such as neutral isolators mask the fact that a safety issue exists: namely, inadequate bonding between contact points allowing electric potential differences to manifest, regardless of the source.
Take an electrical safety tour of your home using this checklist
- Outlets - Check for loose-fitting plugs which can overheat; replace missing or broken wall plates; make sure there are safety covers on unused outlets within a child's reach.
- Cords - Make sure no cords are cracked or frayed; keep out of traffic areas; do not nail or staple to wall, baseboard or any other object; do not place under carpets or rest furniture on them.
- Extension Cords - Check to see that cords are not overloaded; use on temporary basis only; make sure extension cords have safety closures to prevent young children from shock hazards and mouth burn injuries.
- Plugs - Plugs must fit outlets; never remove the third prong; never force a plug into an outlet if it doesn't fit; plugs should fit securely into outlets.
- Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs) - GFCIs can help prevent electrocution. When a GFCI senses current leakage in an electrical circuit, it assumes a ground fault has occurred and interrupts power fast enough to help prevent serious injury from shock. Test GFCIs monthly according to manufacturer's instructions.
- Light Bulbs - Check wattage of all bulbs to make sure they are correct for the size of the fixture; replace bulbs that have higher wattage than recommended; make sure bulbs are screwed in securely - loose bulbs can overheat.
- Circuit Breaker / Fuses - Should be correct size and current rating for their circuit; if you do not know the correct size, have an electrician identify and label the size to be used; always replace a fuse with the same correct size fuse.
- Water & Electricity Don't Mix! - Don't leave plugged-in appliances where they might come into contact with water; if plugged-in appliance falls into water, never reach in to pull it out, even if it's turned off - unplug it first. If an appliance has gotten wet, don't use it until it's been checked by a qualified repair person.
- Appliances - If an appliance repeatedly blows a fuse, trips a circuit breaker or if it has given you a shock, unplug it and have it repaired or replaced.
- Entertainment / Computer Equipment - Check to see that the equipment is in good condition and working properly; look for cracks or damage in wiring, plugs and connectors; use surge protector bearing the seal of a nationally recognized certification agency.
Information compiled from National Electrical Safety Foundation
Information on CFLs and Mercury
Frequently Asked Questions: Information on Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFLs) and Mercury
Severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, hurricanes, and flooding can leave more than damage in their wake—they can leave hidden dangers as well. In some cases, more lives are lost after the storm than from the storm itself.
“When you’re dealing with storm cleanup or flood-damaged property, the prospect of an electrical accident is probably not top of mind,” says Safe Electricity’s Molly Hall. “But it’s the first thing you should think of before you go outside, step foot into a flooded area, or enter a storm-damaged building.”
When outside, stay away from downed power lines and be alert to the possibility that tree limbs or debris may hide an electrical hazard. Treat all downed or hanging power lines as if they are energized. Lines do not have to be arcing or sparking to be live. Warn others to stay away, and contact your Clark County REMC.
Do not touch downed power lines, and do not touch objects or puddles of water in contact with those lines. There is no way to know if they are energized. Encountering these objects can be as hazardous as coming into contact with a downed power line itself.
As part of its “Teach Learn Care TLC” campaign, Safe Electricity urges parents and other caregivers to make sure children are aware of these hazards as well.
Safe Electricity offers other precautions following storms:
· If you are driving and come upon a downed power line, stay in your vehicle, warn others to stay away, and contact emergency personnel or Clark County REMC. Never drive over a downed line, as it could pull down poles and other items along its path.
· Be alert at intersections where traffic lights may be out. Stop at all railroad crossings, and treat road intersections with traffic signals as four-way stops before proceeding with caution.
· Before re-entering storm-damaged buildings or rooms, be sure all electric and gas services are turned off. Never attempt to turn off power at the breaker box if you must stand in water to do so. If you cannot reach your breaker box safely, call Clark County REMC to shut off power at the meter.
· Never step into a flooded basement or other area if water is covering electrical outlets, appliances, or cords. Be alert to any electrical equipment that could be energized and in contact with water. Never touch electrical appliances, cords, or wires while you are wet or standing in water.
· Keep electric tools and equipment at least 10 feet away from wet surfaces. Do not use electric yard tools if it is raining or the ground is wet.
· Electric motors in appliances that have been drenched or submerged should be thoroughly cleaned and reconditioned before they are put back into service. It may be necessary to replace them. Do not use any water-damaged appliance until a professional has checked it out.
· If, after a storm or disaster, the power to your home is out for a prolonged period, know important safety rules, such as never using a charcoal or gas grill to cook inside.
· If you use a portable generator, be sure a transfer safety switch has been installed, or connect appliances directly to the generator. This prevents electricity from traveling back through the home to power lines—what is known as “backfeed.” Backfeed creates danger for anyone near lines, particularly crews working to restore power.
For additional information, tips and safety videos, visit SafeElectricity.org.
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