Skip to main content
Home
Pay Bill Quick Link Pay My Bill
Report Outages Quick Link Report Outages
Contact Us Quick Link Contact Us
Sprout Fiber Internet Sprout Fiber Internet
Menu
  • Sprout Fiber Internet
    • Check Sprout Availability
    • Current Subscribers
    • Sprout Residential
    • Sprout Business
    • Sprout FAQs and Contact Us
    • Sprout Fiber Voice
  • Account Services
    • Report Outages
    • Connect or Disconnect Services
    • Payment Options
    • smartPAY – Prepaid Electrical Service
    • Security Lighting
    • Right of Way Maintenance
    • Rates, Fees, and Regulations
    • Water, Sanitation, and Bill Explanation Guide
    • Construction Forms
    • Industrial and Commercial Members
  • Member Benefits
    • SmartVIEW - Energy Tracker
    • Energy and Money Savings Programs
    • Renewable Energy Options
    • Safety Resources
    • Alabama Living Magazine
    • Co-op Connections Discounts
    • H.U.G & Utility Bill Assistance Organizations
    • New Member Information
    • Electric Vehicles
  • Community Programs
    • Operation Round Up
    • College Scholarships
    • Youth Education Programs
    • Economic Development
  • Your Co-op
    • About Cullman EC
    • Board of Trustees
    • Careers and Employment
    • Annual Meeting
    • News and Events
    • Legal Information
    • Media and Brand Guide
    • Office Hours and Locations
    • Contact Us and FAQs

Getting Through Until Power Gets Restored to You

Tuesday | January 3, 2023
All News

Getting Through Until Power Gets Restored to You

Information provided by SafeElectricity.org

Severe storms are devastating to homes, properties, and lives. These storms can also take down power lines—creating a dangerous situation for all of us, including the linemen and linewomen working hard to get your power turned back on.

How long it takes to get your power restored depends on the extent of the storm’s destruction, the number of outages, and when it becomes safe for utility personnel to get to the damaged areas. There are many steps in the assessment and restoration process—clearing downed power lines; ensuring public health and safety facilities are operational; checking power stations and transformers; repairing transmission lines, substations, and distribution lines; and getting power restored to customers within the various damaged areas.

Be sure to contact your Cullman Electric immediately to report the outage. You can find outage reporting options at https://cullmanec.com/report-outages. 

Safe Electricity and Cullman Electric want you to know how to stay safe and get through until power can be restored to you. They recommend taking the following safety precautions:

  • • Just because power lines are damaged does not mean they are dead. Every downed power line is potentially energized and dangerous until utility crews arrive on the scene to ensure power has been cut off. Downed power lines, stray wires, and debris in contact with them all have the potential to deliver a fatal shock. Stay far away and keep others away from downed power lines.

  • • Never enter a flooded basement if electrical outlets are submerged. The water could be energized.

  • • Do not turn power off if you must stand in water to do so. Call your electric utility, and have them turn off power at the meter.

  • • Before entering storm-damaged buildings, make sure electricity and gas are turned off.

  • • Do not use water-damaged electronics before properly restoring them. Electric motors in appliances should be cleaned and reconditioned before use. It may be necessary to replace some of your appliances and electronics. Have your water-damaged items inspected and approved by a professional before using them.

  • • If you clean-up outdoors after a storm, do not use electronic equipment in wet conditions.

  • • If you are driving and come along a downed power line, stay away and keep others away. Contact emergency personnel or your utility company to address the downed power line.

  • • If you do come in contact with a downed power line, do not leave the car. Wait for utility and emergency professionals to make sure the power line is de-energized before exiting the car.

During an outage, Safe Electricity and Cullman Electric recommend turning off electrical appliances and unplugging major electronics, including computers and televisions. Power sometimes comes back in surges, which can damage electronics. Your circuits could overload when power returns if all your electronics are still plugged in and on. Leave one light on to indicate that power has been restored. Wait a few minutes and then turn on other appliances and equipment—one at a time.

If you use a standby generator, it is critical that proper safety precautions be taken. Always read and follow all manufacturer operating instructions. There should be nothing plugged into the generator when you turn it on. This prevents a surge from damaging your generator and appliances. Operate generators in well-ventilated, outdoor, dry areas. Never attach a temporary generator to a circuit breaker, fuse, or outlet. Permanent generators should be wired into a house by a qualified electrician using a transfer switch in order to prevent feeding electricity back into overhead lines, which can be deadly for linemen.

To help you get through, have a storm kit prepared. Keep the kit in a cool, dry place, and make sure all members of the family know where it is.

For information on when to save and when to throw out refrigerated food after a power outage, go to FoodSafety.gov.

Back to Top

CullmanEC White Logo

Connect with your Co-op

Call Us

 

Main Office/Member Services
256-737-3200 or  800-242-1806

To Report a Power Outage
256-737-3201 or 800-242-1806

Contact Us

Sprout Contact Us

Visit Us

 

Cullman (Main Office)
1749 Eva Road NE
Hours (Mon – Fri)
7:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Addison
31132 US Hwy 278
Hours (Mon – Fri)
7:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.
1 p.m. – 4 p.m.

 

check availability

  • Sprout Fiber Internet
    • Check Sprout Availability
    • Sprout Residential
    • Current Subscribers
    • Sprout Business
    • Sprout FAQs and Contact Us
    • Sprout Fiber Voice
  • Account Services
    • Report Outages
    • Connect or Disconnect Services
    • Payment Options
    • smartPAY – Prepaid Electrical Service
    • Security Lighting
    • Right of Way Maintenance
    • Rates, Fees, and Regulations
    • Water, Sanitation, and Bill Explanation Guide
    • Construction Forms
    • Industrial and Commercial Members
  • Member Benefits
    • SmartVIEW - Energy Tracker
    • Energy and Money Savings Programs
    • Renewable Energy Options
    • Safety Resources
    • Alabama Living Magazine
    • H.U.G & Utility Bill Assistance Organizations
    • Co-op Connections Discounts
    • New Member Information
    • Electric Vehicles
  • Community Programs
    • Operation Round Up
    • College Scholarships
    • Youth Education Programs
    • Economic Development
  • Your Co-op
    • About Cullman EC
    • Board of Trustees
    • Careers and Employment
    • Annual Meeting
    • News and Events
    • Legal Information
    • Office Hours and Locations
    • Media and Brand Guide
    • Contact Us and FAQs

 

Employee Login

©2023 Cullman Electric Cooperative. All Rights Reserved.

  • Sprout Fiber Internet
    • Check Sprout Availability
    • Current Subscribers
    • Sprout Residential
    • Sprout Business
    • Sprout FAQs and Contact Us
    • Sprout Fiber Voice
  • Account Services
    • Report Outages
    • Connect or Disconnect Services
    • Payment Options
    • smartPAY – Prepaid Electrical Service
    • Security Lighting
    • Right of Way Maintenance
    • Rates, Fees, and Regulations
    • Water, Sanitation, and Bill Explanation Guide
    • Construction Forms
    • Industrial and Commercial Members
  • Member Benefits
    • SmartVIEW - Energy Tracker
    • Energy and Money Savings Programs
    • Renewable Energy Options
    • Safety Resources
    • Alabama Living Magazine
    • Co-op Connections Discounts
    • H.U.G & Utility Bill Assistance Organizations
    • New Member Information
    • Electric Vehicles
  • Community Programs
    • Operation Round Up
    • College Scholarships
    • Youth Education Programs
    • Economic Development
  • Your Co-op
    • About Cullman EC
    • Board of Trustees
    • Careers and Employment
    • Annual Meeting
    • News and Events
    • Legal Information
    • Media and Brand Guide
    • Office Hours and Locations
    • Contact Us and FAQs