At Lassen Municipal Utility District (LMUD), we strive to bring our customers the most reliable power possible. Throughout the year, our crews work to upgrade and improve our facilities, doing everything within our control to ensure the power flows uninterrupted to your home.
However, we cannot control Mother Nature. Lassen County winters can be extreme. Strong winds, ice, and snow can wreak havoc on power lines.
If and when an outage occurs, LMUD crews respond as quickly as possible. It’s all hands on deck, from the customer service clerks who operate the phone lines to the lineworkers working to restore power, our staff is prepared to work until the last home has power restored.
Power outages never happen at a good time. In a day and age when we rely heavily on modern conveniences, being without power can bring our lives to a standstill. Some of our customers have installed gas-powered generators to alleviate the situation.
Generators are a great way to keep your appliances and lights on during an outage. However, generators can pose hazards to you and LMUD employees.
California law requires you to notify LMUD if an electric generator is used at your home or business. This information helps us to protect our employees. Generators can back-feed electricity into our lines, which can injure or kill a lineworker.
Before you install a generator, stop by the LMUD office and fill out an electric generator notice. If you are unable to come by the office, we will mail one to you. It’s also available on our LMUD's website.
Once your generator is installed, an LMUD trouble man will inspect the installation to ensure it doesn’t pose a safety hazard to our line personnel.
Keep these guidelines in mind when using a generator:
- Select a generator that’s sized to meet the needs of your electrical equipment. The needs of different homes and businesses vary considerably.
- Hire a qualified electrician to install the generator. Install a double-throw switch. This switch isolates your generator from LMUD’s facilities and prevents power from flowing into the lines.
- Have a good ventilation system for the generator’s exhaust. Generators, like car engines, produce deadly carbon monoxide fumes. Never use one inside your home or garage.
- As you decide where to locate the generator, consider the amount of noise it makes and allow easy access for servicing.
Thank you for your cooperation and for helping us keep our crews and the public safe. For more information on generator safety, visit the Electrical Safety Foundation International website.
Holiday Office Closures
The LMUD offices will be closed on Friday, November 10, in honor of Veterans Day. We will also be closed on Thursday, November 23, and Friday, November 24, so our employees may enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday with their families. We will reopen on Monday, November 27.
To report an outage or electric emergency, our customer service line, (530) 257-4174, will be monitored 24 hours a day to assist you.
On behalf of the LMUD Board of Directors and our employees, have a safe and happy Thanksgiving.