Outage Center | Consumers Energy (2024)

FAQs

How do you respond to a power outage? ›

Most power outages can be restored within hours, but those caused by storms or violent winds that damage electrical lines and equipment can linger for days or even weeks. There are plenty of ways to know how long a power outage lasts.

Can I Shower When the Power Is Out? To shower when the power is out, your home needs a traditional tank-style water heater. If that water heater still has hot water in reserve, then you can take a warm shower. If you plan to take a shower, you need to do it soon after the power goes out.

If you think you smell gas, go to a safe place outside. Do not use any electronics until you're far away from the smell. Call 9-1-1 right away and then call us at 800-477-5050. If you're having an issue at your home that requires tree trimming and isn't an emergency, please reach out to our Tree Management Team.

Alert end users of network outage. Notify the help desk of an outage so they can respond to user concerns appropriately. Check the power supply to make sure your network still has a healthy dose of power. Contact your service providers to ensure the network outage isn't originating on their end.

Depending on the amount of water remaining in the pipes, you might be able to flush your toilet several times while the power is out. Eventually, however, your tank won't fill up anymore because the pumps are down. When this happens, you will need to flush your toilet manually by pouring in a bucket of water.

Average Duration of Power Outages

On average, most technical or minor outages in the USA last about 1-2 hours. However, those caused by major natural disasters can extend for days or even weeks.

As the USDA notes in Keeping Food Safe During an Emergency, your refrigerator will keep food safe for up to 4 hours during a power outage. Keep the door closed as much as possible. Discard refrigerated perishable food such as meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and leftovers after 4 hours without power.

Reset the main breaker by turning the switch off and on two times. Leave the switch in the on position. Return to the breaker panel inside your home and turn each breaker back to the on position, one by one. In many cases, power is now restored.

Stock up on drinking and cooking water, and fill your bathtub as a source for buckets of water to flush your toilet until the power comes on. -Put your flashlights, matches, candles and lanterns in a spot that they will be easy to locate if the power goes out after dark.

Is it safe to drink water during a power outage? ›

Power Outages and Safe Drinking Water

When the power goes out, water purification systems may fail and water may not be available or it can become contaminated. Your local health department can make specific recommendations for boiling or treating water in your area.

You need a large plastic bin that can fit your clothes, water, and soap. You'll also need a toilet plunger, preferably new or clean. Begin by filling the bin with warm water, then add detergent or soap. Depending on how much laundry you have, you can add more water, but be careful not to overfill the bin.

Small amounts of ammonia, baking soda or vinegar can help neutralize the strong smell of gasoline.

Walkie talkies or multi-pack handheld radios may be an option to communicate short distances. Satellite phones are an expensive but reliable way to communicate when power is out and can be purchased online.

The power is out. The electricity went out. We just experienced a power outage.

Dear [Customer's Name], We are currently experiencing an unexpected power failure that may be affecting your service. Our team is working tirelessly to address this issue and restore power as quickly as we can. We understand the inconvenience this may cause and sincerely apologize.