Perennial Public Power District: Customer Service

Customer Service

In this section:
Outages Billing Safety Education

When The Power Goes Off

It is highly unlikely that Perennial Power Customers will have an outage. In a recent survey, 87 percent of Perennial Public Power District customers said that they experience few outages. When an outage does occur, 91 percent said that service was restored promptly.

Perennial Public Power District will respond to your outage call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. After normal work hours, or on weekends or holidays, we always maintain two line technicians on call.

Outages cannot always be prevented...storms, high winds, lightning, equipment failure, tree contact, contact by animals, and vehicle accidents are among the most common causes of power outages.

Widespread outages caused by wind and ice storms will take some time to repair. If needed, All District personnel will report to work any time of the day or night if the outage conditions require that kind of support.

If you experience a power outage...there are a few steps to follow to speed up the restoration process.

Check your breakers and fuses
Check to see if neighbors have lights
Call the Power Dispatch Center at (402) 362-3357 or (800) 289-0288. (give the dispatcher the following information):

Give the name the account is listed under.
Have your account number ready, or
Have your meter number ready, or
Know the legal description for the location of the service.
If you live in town, know your street address.

If the line is busy, keep trying. The Power Dispatch Center has eight incoming lines. Once a storm moves into the area, all eight lines will be answered as soon as personnel can be brought in. If you have tried to get in for quite some time, the outages are likely wide-spread and we'll need your patience and some time to get your power restored.

Stay away from power lines...power lines can be dangerous! Consider any downed power line to be energized and extremely dangerous. Don't go near a downed power line, and don't let anyone else near them. Report any downed power line as soon as possible to the District at (402) 362-3357 or (800) 289-0288.

Standby Generators...if you use a standby generator during power outages, remember that improper generator hookup can create serious problems with safety, and the operation of the generator. It is important that your service has a double-throw switch to isolate the generator from the District's power lines. If it is not isolated, voltage from the generator could be feed back onto the District's lines where it would endanger the lives of of line technicians working to restore your power. If the sources are not isolated, your generator could also be damaged when power is restored. The District will install a double-throw switch at the meter socket for you for a nominal installation fee. If you are interested in a double-throw switch, contact the District during normal work hours at (402) 362-3355, or e-mail us at perennial@mainstaycomm.net.

What should you do...when the lights go off? It seems that power outages always happen at the worst possible time. Outages frequently occur when the weather is bad, and you really need to stay in touch with the outside world for weather advisories. Here are some tips to make the outage less inconvenient:

Make sure you have at least one good flashlight with fresh batteries.
Have a battery operated radio ready.
Keep emergency numbers posted near the telephone.
Keep the refrigerator and freezer door closed. Note: food will keep for several hours in a closed refrigerator, and up to two days in a freezer - provided that the door stays shut.
Purchase an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) for your personal computer. A UPS will allow for the controlled shut-down of the computer without the loss of any data.

Billing Information

Like any electric utility, Perennial Public Power District's livelyhood is dependent on meter readings. We employ two methods of retrieving our readings, with the majority of our customers reading their own meters, while other commercial and village customer's meters are read by District personnel. Our billing cycle begins on approximately the 20th of each month when our consumers receive their monthly bill. Receiving the bill is their queue to read their meter, and submit that reading to our office along with their payment before the first of the following month. Those readings, along with readings taken by District personnel, are then entered into our data processing system and new bills are prepared and mailed so our customer receives it, again by the 20th of the month and the cycle is complete. For more information contact the District billing department at (800) 289-0288.

Budget Billing Program

Our Budget Bill Program is designed to assist our customers with their monthly budget. Once twelve months of billing history has been established, a level program plan can be created based on the billing history whereby our consumer can pay the same amount for eleven months and then make settlement in the twelfth month. Each monthly bill the consumer receives shows the budget amount along with the actual amount and the debit or credit balance as of the bill date. For more information contact the District billing department at (800) 289-0288.

Automatic Bank Draft

This program was developed to make bill paying easier and much more convenient for our consumers. It works this way: Upon written authorization from our customers, the amount of their monthly charge is deducted from their bank account a few days after they receive their bill. There is no need to write a check or be concerned about getting a bill to us on time. With this program, our consumers enjoy worry-free bill paying at no additional cost. For more information contact the District billing department at (800) 289-0288.

Free Home Heating/Cooling Analysis

Perennial Public Power District offers a free Heat-loss/Heat-gain analysis on your home. New Homes - If you are thinking about building a new home, let us show you the advantages of installing an energy efficient electric heat pump. All we need is a set of your blue prints. Existing Homes - If it's time to replace your old worn out furnace and air conditioner, we can help you. An on-site inspection of your home is usually required on existing homes. The following information is needed: Square footage of house along with type of construction, size, type, and location of all doors and windows, amounts of insulation in sidewalls and ceiling. A heat-loss/heat-gain analysis estimates the amount of outside air infiltration that you should expect from your particular home in the winter and summer.

The Electric Advantage

Only electricity offers you so many choices to fit such a wide variety of needs. From room-by-room alternatives, to convenient whole-house systems, to energy efficient water heating, electric equipment offers clean, safe, economical comfort. Clean - Electric space heat and electric water heating are flameless, which means no flames or soot. The air in your home or business will stay cleaner, free of lint or dust. Safe - Electric space heat and electric water heating are safer. Flameless operation requires no chimney or outside venting and no fuels are brought in or burned to cause toxic and combustible fumes. Low operating temperatures make electric units safe for everyone concerned. Economical - Electric space heat and electric water heating are efficient and economical. Low cost, easy installation, minimum maintenance and maximum control add up to maximum savings. Electric systems transform all their energy into heat. Room-by-room units operate only when needed. Heating elements in electric water heating are immersed in the water so heat goes directly into the water.

Incentive Program

Perennial Public Power District offers cash incentives to its customers. You could qualify for a cash rebate up to $450.00 if you install electric space heating and electric water heating in your home. See details:

RESIDENTIAL HEATING & COOLING

Resistance Air Source Heat Pump Water Source Heat Pump

Total Incentive $125 $250 $400



RESIDENTIAL WATER HEATING

Resistance Integrated Equipment Stand Alone Heat Pump Water Heater or Desuperheater

$50 $50

* Cooling Payment:     Minimum SEER - Air Conditioning = 12.0
                                    Minimum SEER - Heat Pumps = 12.0

Note: Upgrades do not apply. Incentives are only for new construction or conversion installations.

Water Heaters: Payments are allowed on water heaters even if you do not heat with electricity. Upgrades do not apply. Incentives are only for new construction or conversion installations. Water heater must be at least 40 gallon in capacity.

Use these links for further rebate information:
Commercial Rebate Information
Multi-family Rebate Information

For more information on the District's incentive program, contact Mick Northrop, Marketing and Communications Coordinator at (800) 289-0288 or e-mail to mnorthrop@mainstaycomm.net.

Safety Checklist

Here is a safety checklist to help you prevent electrical injuries, fires, and shocks.

    Make sure you have a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) installed at all outlets that are near water.
    Do not plug too many appliances into one outlet. Overloaded wires may overheat and cause a fire.
    Always disconnect appliances before cleaning.
    Keep combustible materials such as curtains, clothing, and paper, away from lamps or heating devices.
    Do not patch frayed appliance cords or extension cords.
    Do not run cords behind radiators, through doorways, around pipes, near metal objects, or anywhere they can
         get tripped over.
    Major appliances such as automatic washers and dryers should have their own circuit and be "grounded" with a 3-prong
          plug.
    Always unplug small appliances after using them.

Education

Perennial Public Power District believes that education is the best prevention from electrical related accidents. If your organization would like to learn more about electricity or electrical safety, contact us here.

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