Don't Let Power Outages Stop You Cold!
Power outages seem to be a hot topic within the Lower Mainland, given the recent outages around the city. It’s not often a problem we think about in the spring and summer months, however there are a number of reasons there could be power failures within businesses and homes: construction projects, fire, motor vehicle accidents, even animals who trip the fuse of power lines.
In order to protect your business during these times, it is important to have a plan.
What to Do Before a Power Outage
Know your Building
- Make sure you know the location of your meter room and electric service entrance
- Consider installing an emergency lighting system in your meter room
- Have a portable lamp or flashlight, plus fresh batteries, readily available
Know your Equipment
- Prepare a list of equipment that will need to be turned off during an outage and then reset when power is restored
- Contact other service providers (phone, security, fire etc.) for information on how these systems will work during and after an outage
- If you have three-phase equipment, install a protection device and know how to reset it after an outage has occurred
Have a Plan
- Develop a preparedness plan outlining the operational tasks and responsibilities for your staff
- Identify your needs for backup electrical generation and battery (Uninterruptible Power Supply) systems
- Test your backup battery systems, emergency lighting, phone, security and fire protection systems regularly
- Compile a list of emergency phone numbers
- Prepare an emergency kit and store it in an easy-to-find location
Prepare your Employees
- Make sure your employees know what their responsibilities are during a power outage
- Ensure they have access to your Site Location Identification Number (SLID) so they can report an outage to BC Hydro
What to Do If the Power Goes Out
- Determine whether the problem is limited to your building or electrical system. If it’s a BC Hydro outage, report it immediately
- Implement your outage preparedness plan
- Turn off equipment and appliances, including computers and laptops, especially those that generate heat. This helps prevent equipment damage when power is restored
- When power is restored, first turn on the most essential equipment. Wait 10 – 15 minutes before reconnecting other equipment to avoid overloading the electrical system and give the system a chance to stabilize. Check your facility to make sure everything is operating correctly.
*Tips provided by BC Hydro