Frequently Asked Questions
What is the number to call to report a power outage or a downed power line?
To report a power outage or downed power line, call (405) 359-4655.
Where do I report tree limbs that are growing in or near power lines?
Call Edmond Electric's office at (405) 216-7660 during normal working hours. For safety and reliability of our electric service, limbs growing in our near power lines are trimmed by Edmond Electric.
Is Edmond Electric owned by the City of Edmond?
Yes, Edmond Electric is your municipally-owned electric utility. Your City Council determines policies and rates for the utility. The electric utility was established in 1908 when a small electric plant was built to furnish power for the water and sewer system pumps in the city. A century later, Edmond continues to provide reliable electric service at competitive rates to our almost 80,000 residents.
What happens to the profits from Edmond Electric?
Each year more than $5 million is transferred to the city's general fund to help pay for police and fire protection, street maintenance and other city services. As a result of this transfer, Edmond residents can enjoy our outstanding quality of life while paying one of the lowest sales tax rates in the area.
How do Edmond Electric's rates compare to other utilities?
Residential rates are up to 10% less than other metro area electric utilities. Edmond Electric customers pay competitive rates and enjoy outstanding reliability. The utility received the Reliable Public Power Provider (RP3) recognition from the American Public Power Association.
How does Edmond Electric get its power supply?
Edmond Electric is a member of the Oklahoma Municipal Power Authority (OMPA). OMPA is a state governmental agency that provides low-cost, wholesale electricity to cities and towns that own their own electric systems. OMPA's power supply comes from a variety of resources such as wind, hydo, natural gas and coal.
Why does my neighbor have power but I don't?
It may be that your neighbors are on a different supply line or there may be trouble just on the section of the line supplying your immediate area. The cause of the outage may be isolated to one fuse, one transformer or a group of transformers, or the problem may be on the service line connected to your residence. If all of your surrounding neighbors' lights are on and you are still without power, check your breaker box for a tripped circuit breaker or blown fuse. If that does not appear to be the case, please call us to report your outage using the outage reporting number (405) 359-4655.
Why is Edmond Electric often unable to give out exact restoration times?
We continually work to improve upon our ability to provide restoration times to customers. Several considerations come into play when estimating restoration times. One important factor, particularly after a large storm, is completion of our damage assessment. Until the assessment is done, it is hard to provide a restoration time, especially in cases where we have sustained massive numbers of outages. Other factors include weather, accessibility to damaged areas, coordination with other agencies working on the storm restoration such as public works, tree removal and changing public safety and health priorities, all of which may affect our estimates. We do everything we can to provide an estimate of restoration time as soon as it reasonably can be done. Even then, it is possible that estimates may change during the course of restoration as field crews arrive on the scene.
Why do Edmond Electric crews sometimes leave my neighborhood before power is restored?
Crews working near your home - even across the street - may be fixing a feeder that does not serve your home or may be securing downed wires for follow-up by repair crews. Or, there could be more than one location on the power line that is damaged. If you see our crews leaving your area without restoring power, another area may need to be repaired to activate your line or they may need specialized equipment to finish repairs.
Why is it that when a crew responds to my report of a wire down at my home or neighborhood, they are "standing by" or not working to get my lights back on?
Public safety is our number one priority and when we receive a report of a wire down, we will dispatch the closest available line crew to respond. However, in the event of storms where we have massive outages, we may first send other Edmond Electric personnel to: 1) relieve fire services or police personnel until a line crew can arrive, 2) stand by to make sure the area is safe to the public until a line crew can arrive, or 3) if the wire is not Edmond Electric's, identify it as cable TV, telephone, or other telecommunications wire.
Can't Edmond Electric eliminate power outages by putting all power lines underground?
Burying power lines, which is very costly to customers, is not the answer to all outages. While placing power lines underground may result in fewer outages caused by storms, when outages do occur they are typically of much longer duration. Locating the source of the outage is more difficult because it is not visible, requires the use of specialized equipment to test for and locate the problem, and digging up the cable adds time to the repair. Furthermore, sections of a feeder may be placed underground but we cannot always bury the entire feeder, and the remaining overhead sections are still vulnerable to weather and tree-related outages.
How long will food in my refrigerator and freezer last?
Food will stay frozen for 36-48 hours in a fully loaded freezer if you keep the door closed. A half-full freezer will generally keep food frozen for 24 hours. If it looks like the power will be out for more than 2 - 4 hours, place refrigerated foods such as milk, dairy products, meats, fish and poultry in a cooler surrounded by ice. Perishable foods should not be left at temperatures above 40 degrees F for more than two hours. A quick-response digital food thermometer will help you check the temperature of food in your refrigerator for safety.
What is the best way to protect my food and medicine?
The best way to protect food and refrigerated medicine is with regular ice in an insulated cooler. Ice is inexpensive, easy to use and readily available from a number of retail sources. It is also the best way to preserve medicines that must be refrigerated.
Another alternative is dry ice. Dry ice is available from a limited number of retailers, and there are special handling and safety precautions that must be followed. It takes a lot of dry ice to keep food frozen in a large freezer. For example, 25 pounds of dry ice is needed to keep the temperature below freezing for two or three days in a half-full 10-cubic foot freezer. It takes 50-100 pounds of dry ice to keep a full 18- cubic foot freezer safe for two days. There are also safety concerns if you use dry ice. Gloves or tongs should always be used to handle dry ice, and food should be separated from dry ice with a layer of cardboard to prevent freezer burn. Too much dry ice will freeze refrigerated foods and medicine in a typical ice chest. Never leave children unattended around dry ice - the carbon dioxide vapor may cause suffocation in confined areas and the ice can burn unprotected skin. Dry ice will transform from a solid to a gas at a rate of five to 10 pounds every 24 hours.
What can you tell me about portable generators?
The most important consideration is safety - improper use of portable generators can be deadly due to the carbon monoxide from the generator exhaust and the potential for electrical shock from improperly connecting the generator to a home wiring system. Portable generators should never be used indoors, in an attached garage or near windows and doors. Individual appliances should be plugged into the generator using appropriately sized, outdoor-rated cords.
If you plan to connect a generator to your home wiring, first have an electrician install a transfer switch in accordance with National Electric Code requirements to prevent electricity from feeding back into electric lines. Failure to properly connect your generator to your house wiring could cause back feed on our power lines and endanger our line workers and others. Never plug a portable generator into an electrical outlet in your home.
If you decide a generator is right for you, determine how many appliances you will run at the same time and select your generator based on the total wattage required, including appliance motor start-up requirements.
Compare brands and models, determine where you will store the generator, and see your generator dealer for assistance selecting a model that is the right size for your needs. And remember, most portable generators will not run your central air conditioner or electric heat pump.
I rely on a sump pump to keep my basement dry. What can I do to prepare for an outage?
You may want to check out one of the battery backup sump pump systems available that rely on a rechargeable 12-volt marine battery, or you can plug the sump pump into a portable generator following the safety precautions described above. There are also systems that use municipal household water pressure to operate and are designed to work during power outages. Your plumber or a local retailer can help you select and install the right equipment.
