Planned Power Outage for Pinedale rescheduled for Jan. 14
Necessary to perform transmission upgrades near Pinedale and Big Piney
by Rocky Mountain Power
January 7, 2009
(Pinedale) — Rocky Mountain Power will initiate a planned power outage on Wednesday, Jan. 14, in order to safely perform necessary transmission upgrades in the areas near Pinedale and Big Piney. The outage is scheduled to begin at 3:30 p.m. and will last approximately two hours.
Customers will be affected in the communities of Pinedale, Big Piney, Marbleton, Daniel, Boulder and Cora, as well as the surrounding rural area.
The electrical work and associated outage were postponed from a previously scheduled date in late December, due to timing concerns.
The transmission upgrades are necessary at this time due to increasing electricity use in Sublette County which requires additional capacity to ensure continued safe and reliable electric service. Cold winter weather also adds to the demand on the local transmission system and is another factor contributing to the immediate need for upgrades to maintain the stability of the system.
Affected customers will be notified of the outage in advance, by postcards and automated phone calls. Customer inquiries regarding the planned outage should be directed to Rocky Mountain Power’s toll-free customer service phone number: 1-888-221-7070.
Rocky Mountain Power encourages customers to prepare in advance for this planned power outage, and for any unexpected outages due to severe winter weather or other causes. Assemble a preparedness kit to ensure safety in the event of any type of emergency, including the following items:
• A flashlight;
• non-perishable foods;
• a manual can opener;
• bottled water;
• blankets;
• a battery-operated radio and clock; and
• extra batteries.
If someone in your home is on life support equipment, be sure to have a back-up system and a plan of action in case of an outage.
During a power outage:
• In the event of an unexpected power outage, first check fuses and circuit breakers. If the power failure is not caused inside the home or business, customers should report the outage to Rocky Mountain Power by calling toll free at 1-877-LITES OUT (1-877-548-3768).
• As much as possible, do not open refrigerators and freezers – they will keep food and perishables inside cold for a longer period of time if not opened.
• Preserve body heat by wearing multiple layers of clothing. Add a hat and blanket to stay warm. Blankets and towels around windows and doors help keep the heat in.
• Never use kerosene or propane heaters inside without proper ventilation. They create dangerous fumes. Also, don’t ever burn charcoal in your house or garage.
• Make sure generators are properly wired for your home or business, and don’t connect a generator directly to your home’s main fuse box or circuit panel. This can create a dangerous backfeed hazard for line crews.
• Don’t operate a portable generator inside your home or garage. Always properly ventilate a portable generator. Gasoline-powered generators produce carbon monoxide and the fumes can be deadly. As an added protection, ensure that carbon monoxide and smoke detectors are installed and working properly.
• Protect your pipes during freezing weather by wrapping them with insulation. Also, leave faucets dripping so water won’t freeze and crack the pipes.
• Turn on your porch light when power is back in service. After crews complete repairs, they patrol the area of the power failure to see if lights are on.
For more outage preparation and safety tips, and other electrical safety information, visit www.rockymountainpower.net/safety.
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