TS Gabrielle Pre-Storm Tips From BELCO

Bermuda Electric Light Company [BELCO] is prepared for Tropical Storm Gabrielle to reach the Island as forecast, and will keep the public informed of restoration progress through Facebook, its web site, www.belco.bm, and via the local news media.

BELCO offers the following energy-related tropical storm information:

Prepare for Storm-related Outages:

• BELCO maintains a list of customers on life support equipment that requires electricity and priority is given to restoring power to these customers; however, the company advises these customers to make arrangements for appropriate care during the storm.
• Have flashlights and batteries ready, plus manual can opener, and fill bathtubs, sinks, pots and jugs with water.
• Before the storm, trim trees branches away from power lines only if you can do so safely and without the branches falling onto overhead lines.
• Surge protection equipment can save valuable appliances and sensitive electronic equipment (note: surge protectors are not the same as simple power strips), but it is even better to disconnect appliances and electronic equipment prior to a storm.
• Put refrigerators and freezers on the coldest settings prior to the storm; keep doors closed to keep food cold as long as possible, in the event of an outage. This equipment should be on a surge protector.
• BELCO cannot accept liability for damage to equipment caused by power interruptions or voltage variations such as spikes or surges that occur as a result of severe weather.

Generator Safety:

• Read manufacturer’s instructions and operate the generator accordingly. Make sure the generator is the correct voltage for your appliances (110V). If you have questions, contact a qualified electrician. Improper operation can cause fire and electrical shock to you and BELCO line crews. Note: generators require routine use, testing and maintenance.
• Connect your generator correctly, so that it is isolated from the BELCO system. Incorrectly connecting a generator is a safety hazard for you and for BELCO line crews, as the generator may back feed and energise power lines. Do not connect the generator into the breaker panel or household lines; plug appliances directly into the generator and avoid overloading.
• Operate the generator outdoors in a well-ventilated area, and make sure it is properly earthed or grounded. Also, make sure it is protected from rain.
• Never refuel a generator while it is running or hot. Always keep open flames, such as matches or candles, away from the generator; use a battery-operated flashlight when refueling. Unplug the generator output cord before starting it.

Renewable Energy Installations:

• Before the storm arrives, set your solar or other renewable energy installation to ‘island’ mode, so that it is isolated from BELCO’s system and cannot back feed, energising power lines. If your neighbourhood does not lose power, or when power is restored, you may safely return the system to normal operation.

Call BELCO at 955:

• Before the storm, make sure that BELCO has the correct phone number associated with your account, so that when you dial 955 to reach the Outage Management System, your account and phone number will be recognised.
• Please do NOT phone 955 during a hurricane, as crews cannot be safely dispatched until after the storm subsides.
• After the storm passes, BELCO will be aware of widespread outages. Please phone 955 only if your neighbours have power, but you do not.

Power Line Safety:

• Never touch downed lines, as they may be live. Telephone or cable television wires that are touching power lines can become energised and should also be avoided. If you see a downed line, call BELCO immediately at 955; if you do not reach a BELCO operator, call 911 to report the location of the downed wire.
• Never pull tree limbs off lines, and do not attempt to carry out repairs to overhead lines yourself.
• Stay clear of areas where there is a lot of debris or downed trees, as live power lines may be concealed in the debris. Also, stay clear of chain link or other metallic fences that may be energised if touching a downed line.

#Electricity #Weather

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