C NNECTMAY 2020

SPRING RUNOFF CAN BRING CONCERNS OF FLOODING AND ALTHOUGH THIS YEAR LOOKS TO BE MILD, IT IS ALWAYS GOOD TO BE PREPARED AND KNOW WHAT YOU SHOULD DO IN THE EVENT OR RISK OF A FLOOD THAT COULD IMPACT YOUR HOME.

WHEN THE THREAT OF FLOODING IS IMMI-NENT, IT IS A GOOD IDEA TO TURN OFF THE POWER IN YOUR HOME WHILE IT IS STILL DRY. IF YOUR BREAKER BOX IS LOCATED OUTSIDE OR IN A BASEMENT THAT MIGHT ALREADY BE HOLDING WATER, DON’T ATTEMPT TO TURN OFF THE POWER YOURSELF. CONTACT US TO DISCONNECT THE POWER AT THE METER. UNTIL THAT CAN BE ACCOM-PLISHED, UNPLUG ALL ELECTRICAL DEVICES. IF POSSIBLE, MOVE THEM TO HIGHER LOCATIONS IN THE HOUSE SO THEY DON’T BECOME SUB-MERGED OR TOUCHED BY WATER.

THE CDC CREATED THIS HELPFUL FLYER WITH PRACTICAL FLOODING TIPS.

Unplug appliances to prevent electrical shock when power comes back on.

Gather emergency supplies and follow local radio or TV updates.

Recognize Flood Risk• Identify flood-

prone orlandslide-proneareas near you.

• Know your community’s warningsignals, evacuation routes, andemergency shelter locations.

• Know flood evacuation routesnear you.

Do NOT drive or walk across flooded roads. Cars and people can be swept away.

When power lines are down, water is in your home, or before you evacuate, TURN OFF gas, power, and water.

Tie down or bring outdoor

items inside.

Throw away items that cannot be disinfected, like wall coverings, cloth, rugs, and drywall.

practice safe hygiene

Wash hands with soap and water to help prevent germs.

Listen for information from your local officials on how to safely use water to drink, cook, or clean.

Use fans, air conditioning units, and dehumidifiers for drying.

For cleanup, wear rubber boots and plastic gloves.

Clean walls, hard floors, and other surfaces with soap and water. Use a mixture of 1 cup bleach and 1 gallon water to disinfect.

Caution! Flood water may contain trash.For more information visit

http://emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/floods/

Springtime Means Spring Cleaning – Inside and Out

Start by reducing your paper work inside and sign up for autopay and paper-

less billing with SmartHub! SmartHub is a FREE tool ac-

cessible by the web or phone app. With SmartHub, the power of data and time is in your hands. You can sign up to receive your bill via email, view your elec-tric usage, pay your bill or even enroll in autopay and not have to worry about forgetting your bill. Contact our Customer Service Representatives today and learn what SmartHub can do for you.

As you are cleaning up outside, be sure your electric meter is visible

and accessible at all times, clear of vegetation and debris, and free of other obstacles, such as stacked firewood, bicycles or toys. Our meter readers do their best to provide our customers with accurate meter readings. You can help us serve you even better by keeping this in mind regarding the care of and access to your electric meter.

Commissioners:Curt Knapp: cknapp@popud.org 509.671.1111 Ric Larson: rlarson@popud.org 509.442.3777 Joe Onley: jonley@popud.org 509.671.1312 Website: www.popud.org

CONNECT WITH US! Main Line: 509.447.3137North County: 509.446.3137South County: 509.242.3137TDD: 800.833.6388C NNECT Like us on Facebook for the latest information

National Dam Safety Awareness Day

May 31st is National Dam Safety Awareness Day which was created to encourage and promote individual and community responsibility and best practices for dam safety. It is critically important to not only understand the scope of the danger dams can present, but also be aware of the many ways you can keep yourself safe and avoid a tragedy. There are a huge number of things that can go wrong near dams, so it is always best to avoid them and stay a safe distance away both upstream and downstream. Remember - keep your distance, keep your life.

If you choose to go out on a waterway for recreational purposes, make sure you follow these tips:

1. Know the area: Check maps or speak with locals to get informa-tion about hazards on that waterway. If swimming or fishing, always remain a safe distance from the structure to avoid sudden currents. If kayaking, canoeing, or boating, always portage around the structure or turn around well before reaching the dam to avoid being pulled over.

2. Read the signs: Obey any and all posted signage and barriers in the area, including flood warnings, restricted access signs, portage signs, or other posted signs.

3. Dress for danger: Wear a personal floatation device and safety whistle if you are boating, fishing, swimming, or otherwise recreating in or around a waterway.

4. Tell someone your plans: Let someone know, such as a friend or family member, when and to where you are heading out, and let them know when you return so they know you are safe.

5. If you see someone in trouble, do not enter: Never enter the water yourself to try and help someone. Instead, call 911 and use a remote assistive device, such as a rope or throw bag, to try and pull them back to safety.

In recognition of National Dam Safety Awareness Day, we will have safety whistles available to customers at the Newport

Administration Building as well as the Box Canyon Visitor’s Center at the end of the month and once our lobbies are

reopened – look for details May 31st on Facebook.

Looking to Save? We offer a 1% discount to customers who wish to pay their electric bill for the coming year in advance. This is a once-a-year opportunity and is available during the month of May. Simply call our Customer Service Depart-ment to have your estimated annual billing amount calcu-lated prior to making a payment.

Alternatively, you can sign up for budget billing which evenly distributes your monthly payment for the year to help nor-malize your expenses so you know what to expect. For those already on budget billing, budgets recalculate in May and will be applied to your June statement.

Save on your electricity bill

We are here for youThis is certainly a time that will not be forgotten,

given the hardships caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, we want to remind you that if you are having trouble paying your utility

bill, we are here to help. Our Customer Service Representatives will work with you to

make flexible payment arrangements to help get you through this difficult time. In

addition, there may be energy assistance or other programs available to help. Please call us

at (509) 447-3137. There is uncertainty ahead, but rest assured, we stand committed to preserving the health and safety of our customers, employees,

contractors and communities while delivering the services you depend on. We’re focused on continuing

to meet the needs of our customers during this time.

Our hearts go out to all those that have been affected by this crisis.