When Your Power Goes Off
Severe weather is the most common cause of power outages. Tipmont makes every effort to restore service as quickly as possible. High winds and lightning damage are the most common factors associated with power outages. You can be prepared by following these simple guidelines:

	Check your circuit breaker panel to see if any circuit breakers have tripped (switched off).
	Check for blown fuses if you have a fuse box in an older home.
	If your circuit breakers are switched on or you have no blown fuses, Please check with your neighbors to see if they have power and may have already called to report the outage .
	If you have checked your circuit breakers and you have no blown fuses, call Tipmont at 888.777.7271 to report the power outage. We will ask if your neighbor is also out of power to help us identify the extent of your power outage.

Please do not attempt to report an outage via e-mail.  Follow the instructions below to report outages by telephone through Tipmont REMC's Interactive Voice Response system.

Please call Tipmont REMC at 888.777.7271  However, during a widespread system outage, Tipmont REMC's incoming telephone lines may be overloaded and you may get a busy signal. Please try again and remember, your neighbors will also be calling to report the problem.

How To Prepare For Power Outages
It is always a good idea to be prepared for a power outage. Before you attempt to notify us of your power outage, please make sure you have the name in which the account is in, and know the correct physical 911 address. You can be ready for a power outage by keeping these items located where you can easily find them. :

	A good flashlight (one that is easy to find in the dark)
	Battery-operated AM/FM radio
	Extra batteries for the flashlights and radio
	First-aid kit
	List of important phone numbers
	A few gallons of bottled water (replace with fresh water every 6 months)
	Canned foods which do not require cooking to prepare or eat, and baby supplies for infants
	A can opener for canned goods

When you report an outage
When you call, please give your name and account number as they appear on your bill. Please advise us of your service address, phone number.   If you see any broken poles, or downed power lines, please call and advise us of their location. This can help us pinpoint the problem.

	STAY AWAY FROM POWER LINES. Tipmont REMC line personnel are the only people qualified to safely handle downed power lines.
	Keep your refrigerator and freezer doors closed.. Your food will stay cold much longer if the doors are not opened and closed to look inside.

About Life Support Equipment
Outages can be life-threatening to anyone on life support equipment such as a respirator or infant heart monitor. Therefore, notify us NOW - don't wait until an outage occurs. Call us at 800.726.3953 or click here for more information on signing-up and let us keep this information on file. We require written notification from a physician. If a power outage occurs, we will attempt to notify you of the expected length of the outage so you can make appropriate arrangements.