Around your Home or Business
- Have a licensed electrician inspect your home to be sure that it is properly grounded. Large appliances should have their own circuit and be grounded with a three-prong plug.
- Keep appliances in good condition. Always unplug them by pulling the plug, not the cord, when not in use. Have worn or frayed cords replaced immediately and always have a qualified technician make repairs.
- Electricity and water don’t mix! Keep appliances away from sinks, bathtubs, pools and wet hands.
- If power shuts off in your home, check your service panel. If everything appears to be in order and you are still without power, call (781) 749-0134. HMLP has 24-hour emergency service.
- When replacing a fuse be sure to use a new one of the same rating. Never substitute when replacing a fuse. Using a penny or aluminum foil could cause a fire. If breakers/fuses trip or blow out often, call an electrician.
- Children’s curiosity can lead to danger. Cover outlets with plastic safety plugs.
- Explain the dangers of electricity beginning at an early age.
- Teach children to recognize *Danger High Voltage Signs*.
- Have children fly kites in open areas away from overhead lines. Electricity can travel through the strings of kites and balloons that have come in contact with power lines.
- Teach children to call an adult if a toy gets tangled in power lines or a fenced-in substation. The adult will call HMLP for help. Never attempt to retrieve it yourself.
- Never allow children to climb a tree with power lines near or running through it.
- Electricity and Water DON’T Mix!
- Do not use electrical appliances that have been wet. Water can damage motors in furnaces, freezers, washing machines, dryers and other appliances.
- If an electric appliance has been under water have it dried out and evaluated and/or reconditioned by a qualified service technician.
- Have a licensed electrician check the wiring in your home to be sure the outlets are safe to use.
- When using a wet vacuum cleaner, be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions to avoid electric shock.
- Do not allow power cord connections to become wet.
- Do not remove or bypass the group pin on a three-prong plug.
- Use Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCI) to prevent electrocution.
- Submerged circuit breakers and fuses pose a fire hazard. Replace all circuit breakers and fuses that have been under water and discard all circuit breakers and fuses that have been submerged.
- Call before you dig! Call DigSafe by dialing 811. It’s the law.
- Homeowners and even some contractors can make risky assumptions about whether or not they should get their utility lines marked. But every digging job requires a call – even small projects like planting trees and shrubs.
- The depth of utility lines varies. And there may be multiple utility lines in a common area. Call 72 hours in advance of digging and a DigSafe representative will send out someone to mark underground facilities.
What to do During a Power Outage
Call HMLP at 781-749-0134 to report a power outage. We have an answering service available 24/7 to take your call. Please DO NOT call 911 to report a power outage. Only call 911 about electricity if it involves a public health and safety hazard, such as lines down. You can get updates during an outage by visiting this website or our social media pages which are updated frequently during unusual or catastrophic events.
Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA)
HMLP Customers can stay informed about warnings, hazards and other kinds of important bulletins by through MEMA-recommended update sources. Every family should have multiple methods for receiving emergency alerts, including at least one with an audible alert to wake you in the middle of the night.
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
For more disaster related information or help with emergency preparedness, visit the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) website.