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Power outages have numerous causes. How long they will last depends on what this reason is. There are some steps you can take on your own before reaching out to your electric cooperative to shed some light on your situation.

When a Power Outages Is Isolated to Your Home

Investigate

When the electricity goes out, see if it is localized to one room or one part of your home. It could just be a bulb has burned out or there has been a short. If the rest of your lights and appliances are also not functional, take a look outside or call a neighbor if you’re in a very rural area. If your neighbors have power, you can narrow the problem down to your home.

Restore Power by Resetting Breakers

If the problem is unique to your house, check your breaker box. Strong power surges can trip breakers, so see if your switches are in the “off” position. If it is just a few breakers, try switching them back on. If they can be reset, your power should be restored.

When Breakers Cannot Be Reset

If the breakers will notelectric cooperative reset, or if resetting the breakers throws the main breaker, you may have a bad circuit breaker that will need professional electrical repair. 

When Breakers Throw Frequently

Running too many appliances on one breaker can cause it to throw because each breaker is designed to only allow so much electricity to pass through it. If this is the case, reduce the load by not running certain appliances at the same time, or hire an electrician to either install a new breaker or to rewire certain high-draw appliances to separate breakers.

When Power Outages Affect Your Neighbors

If your neighborhood or nearby area is also experiencing a power outage, the problem is most likely a break somewhere in the power lines. Notify your electric cooperative that your residence has been affected.

If they are already working on the problem, they may be able to give you an estimate for how long you will be without power. In the meantime, unplug sensitive appliances and turn off your light switches to avoid unnecessary damage from power surges when the electricity comes back on.

 

When there is a power outage, reach out to Jemez Mountains Electric Cooperative. Our outage hotline number is (877) 753-0095. You can also use the online customer portal or app to report it.  Dispatchers and linemen from Espanola, NM, are ready to respond 24/7. Our community-based electric cooperative has a caring staff of invested local people dedicated to ensuring quick, reliable, quality service. Have general questions? Call (505) 753-2105. Visit our website for more information on our offerings.

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