While Alfalfa Electric Cooperative is dedicated to providing the highest quality, most dependable power available, outages do occur. It is important that you know how to help keep your family safe and your cooperative informed.
Before you call to report a power outage, check your main breaker or fuse disconnect at the house or on the meter pole. Also, check to see if your neighbors have power.
Outage Map
If a verified outage has been reported in your area, you can see it on the map and get more information about the outage.
Outage Map
Report an Outage
Choose a way to report your outage:
Report the outage through your SmartHub mobile app or by logging into your online account:
Call the Co-op
Using SmartHub
The fastest and most efficient way to report an outage is through our SmartHub app on your mobile device. You can download the SmartHub app in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store or access it on a web browser using your computer or mobile device.
Follow these steps:
1
Click the My Profile tab.
2
Click the Outages link on the far left. The Outages page appears.
3
Click the Report an Outage link below the Outages heading. The Report an Outage window appears.
4
Enter any useful information about your outage in the Comments field. This includes any unusual sights, sounds, and smells, or when the outage began.
5
Click the Report Outage button. A message displays confirming your report was received.
By Phone Call
If you must report an outage by phone, call Alfalfa Electric
When you call, you will need to provide the following information:
The member’s name on the Alfalfa Electric account
Your telephone number. If you have an unlisted number or the phone number on your account has changed, please advise us so we can update your information. This will help us handle your outage call more efficiently.
Account number (if known)
Time the power went off (if known)
Any additional information you have, such as wires being down, trees on the line, or similar trouble
During major outages, our telephone lines may be overloaded with members calling in. Please be patient if the phone lines are busy. Calls are answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and are answered in the order they are received. Please check for updates during major outages on our Facebook page.
Outage Safety Tips
Emergency Generators
The decision to invest in emergency generating equipment is a personal judgment based on one’s own need for uninterrupted service.
Owning your own generator is ideal, but installing it is not a do-it-yourself project.
Have a qualified electrician install an emergency generator according to the National Electrical Code and local ordinances.
Make sure the generator has a manual or automatic switch that disconnects it from the main power line. This is a legal requirement.
If for some reason you have not met this requirement, use the main switch on your service panel to cut power.
A generator that remains connected to the main power lines can backfeed power into them, shocking unsuspecting utility workers. A direct-connected generator also may result in a short circuit that can damage the electrical system or create a fire hazard. The generator itself may be damaged or destroyed.
Don’t operate lanterns, heaters, or fuel-fired cook stoves without adequate ventilation.
Do not burn charcoal indoors because it releases carbon monoxide.
Always refuel outside away from flames or sparks.
Don’t store fuel inside your home.
Wipe up fuel spills immediately.
Don’t allow children to carry candles or oil lamps around the house. A fall could spell disaster!
AEC Services offers Generac whole-home backup generators — dependable systems that keep your home powered and protected during outages.
Electric Life Support Equipment
If someone in your household relies on electric life support equipment, notify AEC at (580) 596-3333 or (888) 736-3837.
Though we cannot guarantee uninterrupted service, special attention can be given to restoring electricity to electric life support equipment during an outage.
You may also want to consider temporary precautionary measures such as moving the patient to a hospital or contacting local police or fire departments for emergency equipment.
Disconnect Major Appliances
Turn off electrical appliances that were operating at the time the power went off, including your heating system.
Leave on 1 light so you’ll know when service has been restored.
Don’t turn on everything at once. This will permit the power to be put back in the line without being knocked off again by the automatic limiting devices that protect our systems from overloads.
If you drain your electric water heater to prevent damage from freezing, it’s an absolute necessity to turn off the appropriate circuit breaker or remove the necessary fuse to disconnect the water heater. Otherwise, you could burn out the heating elements should the power come on while the water heater is empty.
Turning off surface units, the oven, or any part of the range that was “on” when the power went off could eliminate a possible fire hazard if the power comes on when no one is home.