OTEC encourages member-owners to prepare now for possible winter outages

By Shannon Weidemann (McKone) on Monday, November 29th, 2021 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News

BAKER CITY – (Release provided by OTEC) As the official start of winter draws nearer, Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative wants member-owners to know it is ready to respond to power outages, and encourages member-owners to be prepared, too. Learn more at otec.coop/winter-storm-safety and otec.coop/power-outage tips.

Prepare an outage kit that includes:

Flashlight or headlamps, along with spare batteries.
Battery-powered or hand crank radio and alarm clock or watch.
Car charger for your cell phone, laptops and/or tablets.
72-hour supply of ready-to-eat food and water.
Extra blankets, and extra warm clothing such as jackets, hats, and gloves.
Bottled water for people and animals (if you rely on electricity to pump water).

Follow us on Twitter (@OTECooperative) and Facebook (OTECoop) for outage updates, preparedness, and safety tips.
If you have an electric garage door opener, learn how to operate it manually as well.
Protect home electronics by investing in surge protection equipment. Find information at otec.coop/power-surges or consult with a licensed electrician.
If you have a portable generator, learn how to use it properly and do so with caution! Generators pose serious safety hazards when improperly used or installed. This includes safety hazards to OTEC employees if the generator should back feed on to OTEC powerlines. Learn more at otec.coop/generator-safety.

For member-owners’ whose power is out, OTEC offers several ways to get updates or report an outage:

Online: Go to otec.coop/outage-map to view OTEC’s outage map and follow OTEC on social media for updates.
App: Download the free “MyOTEC” app wherever you buy your apps.
Phone: Call 541-523-3616 during business hours or OTEC’s 24-hour hotline at 866-430-4265 to report a power outage or downed line.

People should always assume that any downed line is live and extremely dangerous. Always stay 50 feet back from downed lines (including downed communication cables) and keep others away. Never touch a downed wire with your body or any object. Report any downed line immediately to OTEC.

OTEC has created an innovative 3D, virtual-reality video on downed power line safety that we encourage our member-owners to watch. You can view it at otec.coop/safety-first.

About the cooperative

Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative (OTEC) is a not-for-profit, member-owned electric cooperative that serves nearly 60,000 residents in four counties in Eastern Oregon. Headquartered in Baker City, OTEC has district offices in Burns, John Day, and La Grande.