Puget Sound Energy Encourages Customers to Follow Flood Safety Tips
Road closures due to mudslides, flooding and the threat of avalanches
were preventing Puget Sound Energy crews from responding Wednesday to
power outages east of Concrete, near Marblemount in the North Cascades,
in Lynden and on Crystal Mountain.
PSE is working closely with emergency officials and highway crews to
coordinate when utility repair crews can gain safe access to the
power-outage sites.
Meanwhile, the utility encourages its electric and natural gas customers
with flood damage to follow certain safety tips in case the utility
equipment or appliances in their homes become submerged in water.
"Safety is our primary concern, particularly for customers whose homes
or businesses have suffered flooding where electrical outlets, natural
gas meters and other equipment may be submerged,” said Sue McLain,
senior vice president of Operations for PSE.
PSE encourages customers to notify the utility if flooding causes water
levels to cover their natural gas meter. The utility needs to check the
meter and regulator before any natural gas appliance inside the home or
business is used.
The utility also reminds customers to stay out of flooded basements
because energized wiring or electrical outlets below the water line may
pose a hazard.
PSE recommends these safety tips for flood victims.
If a natural gas furnace has shut down because of flooding, follow these
steps:
-
call Puget Sound Energy from another location if you smell the odor of
natural gas
-
shut off the natural gas control valve on the furnace (if safely
accessible) and you smell natural gas
-
shut off the electric supply to the furnace (if safely accessible)
until the water goes down
-
make sure flooded natural gas equipment is dried out before scheduling
service
-
clean up any mud or other material around the area of the furnace
If duct work in a crawl space is full of water:
-
shut off the furnace
-
do not turn the furnace back on until the ducts are dry
-
schedule a service-check on your furnace after the furnace and duct
work have dried out and the area around the furnace is cleaned
Customers smelling the odor of natural gas or with natural gas equipment
that has been under water should call PSE at 1-888-225-5773 to schedule
a service appointment. For additional flood safety tips, visit PSE.com.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission also provides safety
information about water damage to electrical and natural gas appliances
at http://www.cpsc.gov/CPSCPUB/PUBS/FEMA/flood.html.
About Puget Sound Energy
Washington state’s oldest and largest energy utility, with a
6,000-square-mile service area stretching across 11 counties, Puget
Sound Energy serves more than 1 million electric customers and nearly
750,000 natural gas customers.
PSE, a subsidiary of Puget Energy
(NYSE:PSD), meets the energy needs of its growing customer base
primarily in Western Washington through incremental, cost-effective
energy conservation, procurement of sustainable energy resources, and
far-sighted investment in the energy-delivery infrastructure. PSE
employees are dedicated to providing great customer service to deliver
energy that is safe, reliable, reasonably priced, and environmentally
responsible. For more information, visit www.PSE.com.
