In the event of a major power outage, Oncor’s first priority is to restore electricity to emergency public service agencies, such as police, fire departments and hospitals. The next priority is to restore power safely to as many customers as possible with each repair.

Here are some safety tips for customers to follow when severe weather hits:

• Remember to report your outage. Call your retail electric provider and have your seven-digit ESI ID number ready, which is found on your electric bill.
• Always avoid downed power lines. Any downed line should be considered energized and therefore dangerous. Leave the area immediately and call 9-1-1. Avoid debris lying on the ground that may conceal downed power lines and make sure there are no downed lines before allowing children out to play.
• Residents who have a life-threatening medical emergency should call 9-1-1.
• Steer clear of Oncor crew work areas. Equipment and energized lines may be in the area that could create a safety hazard.
• When driving, watch for crews working along the roadways and obey all traffic signs and directions around work areas.
• If your power is off and you need to leave home, turn off the main breaker as a precaution to avoid a power surge once the power is restored.
• Don’t attempt to make repairs to Oncor’s electrical system or pull limbs off lines.
• Be patient. When major outages occur, Oncor crews focus on restoring power to transmission lines and distribution lines that feed neighborhoods before working on distribution lines that feed directly to homes and businesses. However, be assured that Oncor crews are working as quickly and safely as possible to restore power to customers.
• Customers are reminded to be careful when using portable heaters or other supplemental heating. Never place heaters near flammable materials or where they might tip over. Use fire screens to prevent sparks and embers from causing problems.
• Customers should exercise extreme caution if using candles during a power outage. Always keep candles away from flammable objects and never leave them burning unattended.

Oncor is an electric distribution and transmission business that provides power to more than 3 million homes and businesses and operates more than 115,000 miles of transmission and distribution lines in Texas. Information about Oncor can be obtained by going directly to www.oncor.com.