City Advises Electrical Safety During Storms

Severe weather can wreak havoc, knocking down power lines, shutting off power and flooding basements, creating a potential for electrical shock.

The city of St. Charles urges residents to keep these post-storm safety tips in mind after a storm:

If you must venture out after a severe storm, stay away from downed power lines and be aware that tree limbs or debris may hide a potential electrical hazard. If you encounter any dangling wires, downed or hanging power lines, treat them as if they are energized. Warn others to stay away, and call the St. Charles Electric Utility at 630-377-4407.

Before re-entering storm-damaged buildings or rooms, be sure all electric and gas services are turned off. Never attempt to turn off power at the breaker box if you must stand in water to do so. If you can’t reach your breaker box safely, call your electric utility to shut off power at the meter.

Never step into a flooded basement or other area if water is covering electrical outlets, appliances, or cords. Be alert to any electrical equipment that could be energized and in contact with water. Never touch electrical appliances, cords, or wires while you are wet or standing in water.

Please visit www.stcharlesil.gov for more electric safety tips.

Register Your Phone With the Electrical Outage Reporting System

Customers of St. Charles Electric Utility should register their phone numbers with the automated telephone notification system.

The system users caller ID technology to link customers’ phone numbers to their accounts so the location of the outage can be identified automatically when they call. The system also allows customers to receive updates regarding the outage and a return call to confirm power restoration.

The system can handle heavy call volumes and quickly relays outage information, reducing crew response times to outages and other issues.

Residents can register up to three phone numbers by calling the St. Charles Electric Utility Billing office at 630-377-4426 or registering online at www.stcharlesil.gov.