Outages and Your Business
In a power outage, knowledge is power.
Reliability and power restoration
At BC Hydro, we know how important a reliable supply of electricity is to our customers, and that unexpected power outages have an impact on your business. We work diligently to prevent service interruptions and to shorten their duration when they do occur. This brochure can help you by providing information on how to prepare and what to do in the event of a power outage. Remember, in a power outage, knowledge is power!
What to do before a power outage
Know your building- Make sure you know the location of your meter room and electric service entrance.
- Consider installing an emergency lighting system in your meter room.
- Have a portable lamp or flashlight, plus fresh batteries, readily available.
- Prepare a list of equipment that will need to be turned off during an outage and then reset when power is restored.
- Contact other service providers (phone, security, fire, etc.) for information on how those systems will work during and after an outage.
- If you have three-phase equipment, install a protection device and know how to reset it after an outage has occurred.
- Develop a preparedness plan outlining the operational tasks and responsibilities for your staff.
- Identify your needs for backup electrical generation and battery (Uninterruptible Power Supply) systems.
- Test your backup battery systems, emergency lighting, phone, security and fire protection systems regularly.
- To download a detailed Outage Plan for Businesses Checklist, visit bchydro.com/outages
- Compile a list of emergency telephone numbers.
- Prepare an emergency kit and store it in an easy-to-find location.
- Make sure your employees know what their responsibilities are during a power outage.
- Ensure that they have access to your site location identification number (SLID) so they can report an outage to BC Hydro if you're not available.
What is a site location ID number?
When you call 1 888 POWERON to report an outage, you will be prompted to enter either your account number or unique site location ID number (SLID). The SLID, which is pre-assigned, cannot be used to extract any account information – it is simply a reference to your location(s).
Post your SLID and make it available to employees who may be responsible for reporting an outage.
You can download and print customized posters listing your SLID number(s) by logging in to your account and clicking on Outage Resources.
What to do if the power goes out
- Determine whether the problem is limited to your building or electrical system. If it's a BC Hydro outage, report it to us right away.
- Report the outage by calling 1 888 POWERON (1 888 769-3766) or *HYDRO (*49376) on your cellphone. You will be prompted to enter your account number or site location identification number (SLID).
- Implement your outage preparedness plan.
- Turn off equipment and appliances, including computers and laptops, especially those that generate heat. This helps prevent equipment damage when power is restored.
- If you have access to the Internet or can contact someone who does, go to www.bchydro.com/outages for updated outage information.
- When power is restored, first turn on the most essential equipment. Wait 10 to 15 minutes before reconnecting other equipment to avoid overloading the electrical system and give the system a chance to stabilize. Check your facility to make sure everything is operating correctly.
Take time after the outage to review your preparedness plan to determine what worked and what areas can be improved on. Update the plan and review it with your employees while the experience is fresh in everyone's mind.
For more safety tips, review the 7 Steps to Electrical Safety.
Restoring power efficiently and safely
- We check the overall system and repair damage to power plants, high-voltage transmission lines and substations.
- We restore power to critical services such as hospitals, police, fire, water and communication systems.
- We make repairs that will return service to the largest amount of customers in the least amount of time, such as high-density housing and large neighbourhoods.
- We restore power to smaller neighbourhoods and individual customers.
Why are estimated times of restoration shorter or longer than originally predicted, or not available at all?
Shorter. In some situations, when the BC Hydro crew arrives at the site, they learn that the problem is in an area that can be bypassed. In these cases, power can be restored to some customers on the line right away while the crew fixes the problem. This can significantly shorten the predicted outage time.
Longer. In other situations, the BC Hydro crew learns that the cause of the outage is difficult to locate or is particularly complicated. If the outage has multiple causes – which may become apparent only after the first problem has been fixed – the repair may take longer than originally predicted.
Not available. During storms, our customers are communicating a huge volume of information, and the situation can change from moment to moment. In these conditions, providing estimated restoration times is not always possible early on.
Safety first
Never approach a fallen power line. Always consider a fallen power line energized and extremely dangerous. Stay at least 10 metres (33 feet) away from downed lines or anything that is in contact with them, and keep others away until BC Hydro is on the scene. Report the location immediately to BC Hydro at 1 888 POWERON (1 888 769-3766).
Have a plan if the power goes out
One of the ways to lessen the impact of an outage on your business is to have a plan in place.
Use the Outage Plan for Businesses checklist [PDF, 72 Kb] as the basis for creating your own customized outage preparedness plan for your business. It includes steps to take before, during and after an outage. Keep a copy with your emergency kit.
