SEATTLE — As western Washington braces for severe weather that could knock out power, here are four things to know before your electricity goes out.
Do I need to call to report outages?
Yes, you should report the outage to your power provider. Find your power company to report outages, get the latest updates, and most importantly find out when the lights will come back on. Check this list of Northwest utility companies' contact information to get started.
Do I need to shut everything off if the power goes out?
It's a good idea. If everything is turned on when the power is restored, it can overload your system and blow a fuse. If the power goes out, shut off everything you can. Turn on one or two lights, so you know your power is back when it's restored.
What's the biggest mistake people make during outages?
Do not use a generator or grill inside. This can be deadly because of carbon monoxide poisoning. Carbon monoxide is odorless and colorless, so you won't know it's affecting you until it's too late. Keep generators and grills outside.
Why aren't more power lines underground?
The main reason is cost. More underground lines equal higher bills for you.
There are also downsides. Flooding can affect the lines. And if a big tree falls, the roots can uproot those underground power lines.
And if an underground power line is damaged, they are hard to find, and it takes a long time to fix.