• Power Outage in Grand Rapids, MI - Report Power Outage (2024)

FAQs

What are the rules for power outages in Michigan? ›

Under service quality rules issued by the Michigan Public Service Commission in 2023, utilities in the state are obligated to credit customers who experience a power outage lasting longer than 120 hours during a state of emergency, an outage lasting longer than 16 hours under normal conditions, or more than seven ...

Depending on the amount of water remaining in the pipes, you might be able to flush your toilet several times while the power is out. Eventually, however, your tank won't fill up anymore because the pumps are down. When this happens, you will need to flush your toilet manually by pouring in a bucket of water.

Most plumbing does not require electricity so thankfully your toilet will still work! The downside to a power outage is that if you have to shower, keep it short! The water heater only holds so much hot water and some citywide systems use electricity to pump sewage to facilities so it could get backed up quickly.

The WPP allows eligible low-income customers to make monthly payments equal to 7% of their estimated annual bill, November through March, and avoid shut-off during that time even if their bills are higher.

A partial power outage can occur because of various reasons such as overloaded circuits, a tripped breaker, or sometimes faulty wiring. Sometimes, it might even be caused by a pesky squirrel chewing on the wires outside!

Keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible to maintain the cold temperature. The refrigerator will keep food cold for about 4 hours if it is unopened. A full freezer will keep the temperature for approximately 48 hours (24 hours if it is half full) if the door remains closed.

First, check all of the outlets in the affected area to see if any have loose or damaged wires. If so, these need to be repaired or replaced as soon as possible. Another possibility is that a circuit breaker may be loose or damaged. In this case, you will need to replace the breaker or put it back in place.

Planned power cuts and how they work

Each planned power outage is likely to last around three hours, and in emergency cases, this could be longer. You'll be contacted before it's planned, with the details of the time when the power will be cut.

Stock up on drinking and cooking water, and fill your bathtub as a source for buckets of water to flush your toilet until the power comes on. -Put your flashlights, matches, candles and lanterns in a spot that they will be easy to locate if the power goes out after dark.

Should you turn off breakers during power outage? ›

Unplug everything in your home. Turn off breakers or remove fuses. If there is an extended power outage, you may want to leave one lighting circuit on so you will know when the electricity comes back on.

Faucets and Sinks

Even without hot water, you may notice that your faucets still run fairly normally during a power outage. Homes that are connected to the local water supply should still have access to cold water. People who use an electric pump to draw water out of a well may temporarily lose access to water.

Fill a clean bucket or basin with water, then add the soap and mix well. One item at a time, scrub the clothes against the surface of the water, making sure to clean all areas thoroughly. You can use a scrub brush or your hands to agitate the fabric, but be gentle with delicate fabrics.

As the USDA notes in Keeping Food Safe During an Emergency, your refrigerator will keep food safe for up to 4 hours during a power outage. Keep the door closed as much as possible. Discard refrigerated perishable food such as meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and leftovers after 4 hours without power.

Power Outages and Safe Drinking Water

When the power goes out, water purification systems may fail and water may not be available or it can become contaminated. Your local health department can make specific recommendations for boiling or treating water in your area.

(1) A municipally owned electric utility shall not shut off service to an eligible customer during the heating season for nonpayment of a delinquent account if the customer is an eligible senior citizen customer or if the eligible customer enters into a winter protection payment plan to pay to the utility a monthly ...

There are a variety of circ*mstances that can cause power outages ranging from natural causes like weather and animals to equipment failures and scheduled upgrades. In Michigan, fallen trees or broken limbs are the reason behind a power outage around 33% of the time, making them the leading cause for lost electricity.

During a power outage, you may be left without heating/air conditioning, lighting, hot water, or even running water. If you only have a cordless phone, you will also be left without phone service. If you do not have a battery-powered or crank radio, you may have no way of monitoring news broadcasts.

This question could be answered in two ways. If you have a “corded” phone, then yes your landline telephone will work during a power outage. If you have a “cordless” phone, then it will not work, because a cordless phone requires electricity to transfer the signal from the base to the handset.