General safety tips
• Listentothemediaforinstructionsfromlocalofficials.
• Waituntilanareahasbeendeclaredsafebeforeentering.Becarefuldrivingbecauseroadsmaybedamagedandpowerlinesmaybedown.
• Beforeenteringabuilding,checkforstructuraldamage.
• Uponenteringabuilding,useabattery-poweredflashlight.DO NOTuseanopenflameasasourceoflight.Gasmaybetrappedinside.
• Stayoutoffloodedbasementsorstandingwater.Energizedwiring,outletsandappliancesbelowthewaterlinemayposeahazard.
• Floodedbasementsshouldbedrainedandcleanedassoonaspossible.Structuraldamagecanoccurifdrainedtooquickly.Whensurroundingwatershavesubsided,begindrainingthebasementinstages,aboutone-thirdofthewatervolumeeachday.
• Wheninspectingthebuilding,wearrubberbootsandgloves.
• Watchforelectricalshortsandlivewiresbeforemakingsurethemainpowerswitchisoff.
• DONOTturnonelectricalappliancesuntilanelectricianhascheckedthesystemandappliances.
• Testdrinkingwaterforpotability.Wellsshouldbepumpedoutandwatertestedbeforedrinking.
• Ifthepublicwatersystemisdeclared“unsafe”byhealthofficials,waterfordrinkingandcookingshouldbeboiledvigorouslyfor10minutes.
• Shoveloutmudorsandwithspecialattentiontocleaningheatingandplumbingsystems.
FloodSafetyandRestorationInformationWestern New York
Electrical safety
• Nevertouchanyfallenpowerlinesoranythingtouchingfallenwires.ReportallfallenwirestoNationalGrid.
• Ifservicehasbeenrestoredtoyourneighbor-hoodandyourhomeisstillwithoutpower,callNationalGridat1-800-867-5222.
• Itisveryimportantwehearfromyouregardingyouroutage.Youshouldneverassumeweknowaboutthepoweroutage.
• Ifyourhomehasflooded,pleasecheckwithanelectricianbeforeturninganythingon.
• Graduallyreconnectyourappliancestoavoidoverloadingcircuitswhenpowerisrestored.
• Ifyouuseageneratortosupplypowerduringanoutage,besuretoonlyoperateitoutdoors.Beforeoperatinggenerators,besuretodiscon-nectfromNationalGrid’ssystembyshuttingoffthemainbreakerlocatedintheelectricservicepanel.Failuretodothiscouldjeopardizethesafetyofcrewsworkingtorestorepower.
ToreportaNationalGridpoweroutage:1-800-867-5222
If your neighborhood has experienced flooding, please follow these general safety rules and procedures before restoring electricity.
CM5511 (11/14)
Underground Electricity Service
IfyoureceiveelectricityservicefromanundergroundcablethatrunsfromaNationalGridutilitypoleortransformertoyourresidence,theelectricitysystemconsistsofthefollowing:
A. UndergroundServiceEntranceCable,whichrunsundergroundfromNationalGrid’sutilitypoleortransformertotheelectricitymeterandfromthemetertothemainservicepanelinyourhome.
B. MeterBoxonwhichyourelectricitymeterismounted.
C. ElectricityMeter,whichmeasuresyouruseofelectricityinkilowatthours.
D. MainServicePanel,whichincludesthefuseboxesand/orcircuitbreakersthatprotecttheelectricityserviceinyourresidence.
Repair and Maintenance of Underground Service
Thehomeownerisresponsibleforthemaintenanceofandanyrepairstothefollowing:
• Undergroundservicecable
• Meterbox
• Mainservicepanel
Inadditiontomaintainingallpartsofitsdeliverysystem,includingtheutilitypolesandtransformers,NationalGridwillrepairanyproblemswiththeelectricmeter.
Tips on Selecting a Contractor
Whenlookingforaprofessionalcontractortomaintain,repairorreplaceyourelectricityserviceequipment,remember:
• Contractorschargedifferentfees.
• Callatleastthreetocomparepricequotes.
• Askhowlongeachcontractorhasbeeninbusiness.
• Getcustomerreferences—andchecktoseeifthosecustomersweresatisfied.
• Besurethecontractorguaranteesbothworkmanshipandmaterials.
• Makesurethecontractorprovidesacurrentcopyofliabilityandworkerscompensationinsuranceforyourprotection.Avoiddemandsforup-frontpayments.
• Keepinmindthatthelowestbidisn’talwaysthebest.Skill,workmanshipandserviceareextremelyimportant.
This is an important notice. Please have it translated.
For more information, visit us at www.nationalgrid.com and connect with us on
National Grid contact information
To report electricity outages or downed wires: 1-800-867-5222
General questions about safety and service: 1-800-642-4272
Call before you dig: dial 811 or 1-800-962-7962
Restoring your electricity service.Waterdamagetoyouroryourneighbor’shomeorbusinessmayhaveresultedinserviceinterruptions.Itisourgoaltorestoreserviceinyourareaandtoyourhomeorbusinessassafelyandquicklyaspossible.
1. Ifyourelectricitypanelwasunderwaterorthewiringtoyourhomewasdamaged,contactanelectricalcontractortoevaluateyourhomeandmakeanynecessaryrepairs.
2. Whenrepairsarecompleted,theelectricalcontractorwillassistyouinobtainingan“electricalinspection”fromathird-partyagency.PleasenotethatelectricalinspectionsarenotperformedbyNationalGrid.
3. Whenthehomepassestheelectricalinspection,theinspectorwillcontactNationalGridandtheappropriateserviceorderwillbereleasedtoturnonyourpower.
4. Ifyourelectricitypanelwasnotunderwaterandnodamageoccurred,pleasecontactanelectricalinspectortocertifyyourhomeisreadytobere-energized.
• AlistofelectricalinspectionagenciesisavailablefromNationalGrid,1-800-642-4272.
• Inallcases,someonemustbehomeforNationalGridtorestoreelectricityservicetoahome/building.
Forfurtherinformationabouttherestorationofyourelectricityservice,pleasecall:1-800-642-4272.
Appliance safety after a flood.
What to do if heating or cooling equipment has been exposed to standing water.Safetyprecautionsmustbetakenafterahomeorbusinesshasbeenexposedtostandingwater,whichcandamageanelectricalsystem,waterheater,furnace,boiler,air-conditioning,ventilation,andheatpumpsystem—andputyouandyourfamilyatrisk.
• Replacementvs.repair -Inmostcases,flood-damagedheatingandcoolingequipmentandsystemswillhavetobereplaced,notrepaired.Allinspectionandreplacementworkonfloodedequipmentshouldbeperformedbyqualifiedheatingandcoolingcontractors,notbyhomeowners.Alicensedelectricianshouldreplacefloodedelectricalequipmentandcomponents.
• Ductwork–Ifyouhaveacentralforced-airfurnaceinthehousewithflooddamage,payattentiontoyourductworktoo.Aqualifiedheatingcontractorwillnottrytosalvageductinsulationthathasbeenincontactwithfloodwater,butwillreplaceitbecauseitisimpossibletodecontaminate.
• Gasfurnaces,boilers,fireplaces -Ifthereisanyquestionwhetherfloodwaterhassubmergedagasapplianceand/oritscontrols,havetheunitcheckedbyaqualifiedheatingcontractor.
• Electricfurnaces-Justlikethegas-firedwarm-airfurnace,anelectricfurnaceissusceptibletocorrosionanddamage,resultinginreliabilityproblemsorsafetyhazards.Havetheunitcheckedbyaqualifiedheatingcontractor.
• Propaneheating-Useextremecautionwhenthereisthepotentialforpropaneleaksandhavepropaneequipmentchecked,repairedand/orreplacedbyaqualifiedheatingcontractorasquicklyaspossibleafteraflood.
• Radiantceilingheat-Aqualifiedelectricianshouldbeconsultedtodeterminewhetherthecableisreusable.
• Heatpumpsandairconditioningsystems-Thedecisiontorepairorreplaceshouldbemadebyaqualifiedprofessionalonacase-by-casebasis.
• Waterheatingsystems-Whetheryourwaterheaterisgas-fired,oil-firedorelectric,ifitwasexposedtofloodwater,theunitshouldbereplaced.Anewwaterheaterisarelativelysmallinvestment,andreplacingitisfairlyeasytodo.
What’s yours, what’s ours.
The Facts about Your Energy Service EquipmentOurcustomerssometimesaskwhoisresponsibleformaintainingandrepairingtheequipmentthatprovideselectricityand/ornaturalgastotheirhomes.Mostpeoplepaytheirtelephonecompanyonlyforservicetotheirhome,anddon’tchoosetopaytheadditionalfeeformaintainingthephoneandlinesinsidethehome.Inthesameway,youpayNationalGridforprovidingservicetoyourmeter,notformaintainingtheequipmentorappliancesthatusetheservice.Thecustomer/ownerisresponsibleforinstalling,maintainingandrepairingallequipmentbeyondtheserviceconnectionpointexceptfortheelectricmeter.
Overhead Electricity Service Entrance CableIfyoureceiveoverheadelectricityservice,yourelectricitysystemconsistsofthefollowing:
1. ElectricityLinesthatrunfromtheutilitypoletoyourresidence.TheonlyequipmentthatismaintainedorownedbyNationalGridbeyondthisconnectionpointistheelectricitymeter.
2. WeatherheadandInsulatoratthepointwhereelectricitylinesconnecttoyourresidence.
3. ServiceEntranceCable,thewirethatrunsfromtheweatherheadtotheelectricitymeterandfromtheelectricitymetertotheservicepanelinyourhome.
4. MeterBoxonwhichyourelectricitymeterismounted.
5. ElectricityMeterwhichmeasuresyouruseofelectricityinkilowatthours.
6. MainServicePanelwhichincludesthefuseboxesand/orcircuitbreakersfortheelectricserviceinyourhome.
Who is responsible for what?Ifyouhaveoverheadelectricityservice,youareresponsibleforthemaintenanceandrepairofthefollowing:
• Weatherheadandinsulator• Serviceentrancecable• Meterbox• Mainservicepanel
National Grid is responsible for repairs to:• Overhead,outsideelectricitylinestoyourresidence,
transformers,poles,substations,transmissionlines,etc.
• Electricitymeter
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