What to do if the power goes out

1. What to do if the power in your neighborhood goes out

A power outage might occur due to a malfunction of TEPCO facilities such as a result of typhoon, lightning, or accident. Please contact TEPCO Power Grid if the power in your neighborhood goes out.
We will do everything within our capabilities to restore power as soon as possible.

* Please be aware that information regarding power outage recovery progress and similar items might be provided by taped message due to the temporary heavy concentration of phone calls to our customer center. We thank you for your understanding in this matter.

2. What to do if the power goes out throughout your home

<<If your contract ampere capacity is set by smart meter*>>

* No ampere breaker is installed if your contract ampere capacity is set by smart meter.

<<If an ampere breaker is installed>>

The ampere breaker can be tripped if the use of many electrical appliances at the same time results in the contract ampere capacity being exceeded.
Reduce the amount of appliances or devices being used and then turn the ampere breaker switch upward.
It is also possible for the earth leakage circuit breaker to be tripped due to electric leakage (short circuit), excessive use of electricity, shock caused by lightning, and similar causes.

(* Refer to the figures below if the earth leakage circuit breaker is tripped.)

Please do not hesitate to contact the nearest TEPCO Power Grid if you are concerned that your power does not turn on even though the ampere or earth leakage circuit breaker has not been tripped.

* The figure shows a sample image of a distribution board. No ampere breaker is installed if your contract ampere capacity is set by smart meter.
Perform the procedures from step 2.

3. If the power goes out in a part of your home only

It is probable that a short circuit occurred because some appliance or device you were using malfunctioned or the cord was damaged, or due to a cause such as a distribution line circuit breaker (safety device fuse) being tripped due to an excessive use of power in the room where the power went out.
Unplug the appliance or device from the socket, turn on the switch of the distribution line circuit breaker or replace the tripped fuse.
It makes it easier if you indicate beforehand which distribution line circuit breaker belongs to which room.
Please do not hesitate to contact the nearest TEPCO Power Grid if you are concerned that your power does not turn on even though a distribution line circuit breaker (safety device fuse) has not been tripped.

4. Precautions for Power Outages

• Be very careful when crossing intersections as traffic signals might suddenly stop working.
• Be careful of heatstroke in the summer because air conditioners and electric fans cannot be used during a power outage.
• You cannot generally use most land-line, IP, or subscription telephones during a power outage.
• Prepare alternate means, such as a mobile phone, as well as a backup power source.
• Be careful of fire when using candles or similar items as light during a power outage.
• Avoid using briquette or charcoal-fueled cooking stoves for heating or making food indoors. If you must use one, be sure to periodically provide sufficient ventilation in order to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.
• Provide periodic ventilation in the same manner if using any sort of combustion appliance such as an oil heater.
• Be careful in office and apartment buildings as equipment such as elevators, automatic doors, auto-locks, and multistory parking garages will not be able to function.
• Crime prevention systems and gas leakage alarm devices might not function.
• Unplug any electrical appliances or devices that generate heat such as irons, hair driers, and sheath heaters from the outlet in order to prevent fire when the power is restored.
• Unplug any rotating appliances and equipment such as hand mixers, and electric drills and saws from the outlet in order to prevent an accident when the power is restored.
• You can safely and easily prevent accidents due to forgetting to turn off the power by turning off the breakers of the distribution board before leaving your home.

  *  After power is restored, first turn on the breakers and then plug in the appliances.

• Gas and water supply might also be stopped in addition to the power.
• Water pipes and water heater pipes might freeze during the winter in cold areas.
• Check the time display on remote controls and other devices after the power is restored because time settings of remote controls for EcoCute and electric water heaters might be cleared depending on the model.
• Check settings of electrical appliances with a timer function, such as rice cookers and televisions (timer recording) after the power is restored because the time might become incorrect and timer settings might be cleared.
• Move fish from aquariums to a live-box or use a battery-powered air pump. Be careful of the water temperature if you have tropical fish.

Precautions for Pre-Scheduled Power Outages

• Do not use the elevator during the scheduled time of the power outage because you might become trapped inside the elevator.
• Data being input into an OA device such as a personal computer might be deleted or the device might malfunction due to the power outage depending on the device conditions.
  Turn off the power beforehand and remove the plug from the outlet.
  There are personal computers available that are equipped with an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) or a battery recharging function so that the device can use battery power if there is a sudden power outage.
• Consult with the corresponding medical services provider beforehand if you are receiving medical care at home.
  Persons who use a medical device such as an artificial respirator at home but have no alternate power supply (batteries, etc.) available can possibly borrow for use a small generator or similar equipment from TEPCO Power Grid. Please inquire at your nearest TEPCO Power Grid.

  * Do not use small generators indoors because the exhaust gas they generate contains toxic substances such as carbon monoxide.

• You will be advised of any pre-scheduled power outage beforehand by use of distributed flyers, affixed posters, and similar means.
  Persons who are sight-impaired can be informed by telephone or similar method if they so desire. Please contact your nearest TEPCO Power Grid.