Check power lines for limbs.

Byline: The Register-Guard

Eugene Water & Electric Board customers are urged to check for tree limbs that are encroaching on power lines after wind storms this week that cut electricity to more than 900 homes and businesses.

At least two outages were blamed on trees that fell onto power lines during high or gusty winds Monday and Tuesday. In addition, several individual homes lost power when limbs fell onto lines. Electricity was restored within a half hour in most cases.

To maintain reliable electricity service and meet safety requirements, EWEB trims trees that interfere with overhead power lines. To report a potential problem, call 484-2411 and ask for tree trimming.

Homeowners shouldn't attempt to trim a tree that has power lines running through it.

If a tree limb has grown into a power line, the potential exists for power to travel to the ground. Water and sap in trees are excellent conductors of electricity.

With the frequency of storms likely to increase as winter approaches, residents also are urged to be prepared for an occasional power outage. Prepare an emergency kit containing flashlights, extra batteries, candles, matches, blankets and a battery-powered radio.

Electronic equipment such as computers and stereos should be protected with a surge suppressor. Consider having a back-up phone in your house that is not cordless. Cordless phones won't work during a power outage.

In the event of an outage, first check the electrical panel for tripped breakers or a blown fuse. If that isn't the cause of the problem, call EWEB's 24-hour outage hotline, 484-2300.

For more tips on what to do during an outage, visit www.eweb.org and click on "All About Power."