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Upon arrival, do a circle check and inspect the power line feeding your cottage. Take note if there are any tree branches that have grown too close to the power line — they could cause a power outage. Hire a qualified contractor to prune trees near your power line. If a wire is down on the ground, stay at least one bus length away and call Hydro One's power emergency line immediately at 1-800-434-1235.
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Perform basic maintenance activities around your cottage. Hydro One will disconnect the power supply to your property once a year at no charge so that any maintenance along or near your power line can be performed safely.
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The last thing to do before entering the cottage is to check your electricity meter for damage. If there is damage, report it to your local electricity service provider.
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If your cottage is in an area that experienced flooding, ensure that there is no water damage to electrical equipment. If damage occurred, hire a Licensed Electrical Contractor to conduct an evaluation and make any necessary repairs before turning on power at your premise.
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Look at your interior wiring, electrical cords and plugs for damage. Arrange for repairs or replacement, if necessary. The start of the cottage season is also a good time to replace the batteries in your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors and ensure your fire extinguishers are charged.
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Before turning on the power to your cottage, ensure all branch circuits are in the off position. Open the main switch and then energize individual circuits one at a time. Fill your water tank before switching on the power, to avoid damage to your water heater element.
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Finally, sign up for Hydro One's new outage alerts. The free service sends registered customers a text or email when the power is out near their property and updates on estimated times of restoration.