November 2009

Reliable Power

Dear Member:

At Midstate Electric, we strive to bring you, our members, the most reliable power possible. Throughout the year, our crews work to upgrade and improve our facilities, doing everything within our control to ensure the power flows uninterrupted to your home. However, we cannot control Mother Nature. Central Oregon winters can be extreme, with strong winds, snow and ice wreaking havoc on our power lines.

If and when an outage occurs, Midstate Electric crews respond as quickly as possible. It is “all hands on deck.” From the customer service representatives on the phones to the linemen working to restore power, our staff is prepared to work until power to the last home has been restored.

In a day and age when we rely on modern conveniences, being without power can bring our lives to a standstill. Some of our members have installed portable generators to alleviate the situation. Generators are a great way to keep your appliances and lights on during an outage, but keep in mind they pose hazards to you and our staff. Generators can “back-feed” electricity into our lines, injuring or killing our linemen.

For safety’s sake, hire a licensed electrician to install the generator. Be sure a double-throw transfer switch is installed. This isolates your generator from Midstate Electric’s lines and prevents power from flowing into the lines. The transfer switch is installed beside the main electrical panel and is connected to circuits you will need during an outage. When the power goes out, you simply crank up the generator and run a single extension cord from it to the transfer switch. Once the generator is running, you can choose which circuits you want to use by flipping the switches on the transfer switch.

When using a generator, keep these guidelines in mind:

• Select a generator that is sized to meet the needs of your electrical equipment. The needs of different homes and businesses vary considerably.
• Make sure your generator is properly grounded.
• Keep the generator dry.
• Make sure extension cords used with generators are rated for the load, and are free of cuts, worn insulation and have three-pronged plugs.
• Do not overload the generator.
• Do not operate the generator in enclosed or partially enclosed spaces. Generators  can produce high levels of carbon monoxide very quickly, which can be deadly.

Midstate Electric’s office will be closed Thursday, November 26 and Friday November 27 for the Thanksgiving holiday. In case of an outage or electrical emergency, our after-hours outages/emergencies lines (541-536-2165 or 800-752-5935) will be open 24 hours a day to assist you.

On behalf of myself, the Board of Directors and our employees, have a safe and happy Thanksgiving.

Bill A. Kopacz
General Manager

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