During winter storms, there are invariably power outages across the Bay Area. Customers can report power outages to PG&E by calling (800) 743-5002.

Please heed these safety tips provided by PG&E:

• Treat all downed power lines as if they are "live" or energized. Keep yourself and others away from them. Call 911, then notify PG&E at (800) 743-5002.

• Use battery-operated flashlights, not candles.

• Customers with generators should make sure they are properly installed by a licensed electrician. Improperly installed generators pose a significant danger to our crews.

• Unplug or turn off all electric appliances to avoid overloading circuits and fire hazards when power is restored. Simply leave a single lamp on to alert you when power returns. Turn your appliances back on one at a time when conditions return to normal.

Preparing for Power Outages:

• Have battery-operated flashlights and radios with fresh batteries ready. Listen for updates on storm conditions and power outages.

• If you have a telephone system that requires electricity to work (such as a cordless phone or answering machine), plan for alternate communication - have a standard telephone handset, cellular telephone or pager ready as a back up.

• Freeze plastic containers filled with water to make blocks of ice that can be placed in your refrigerator/freezer during an outage to prevent foods from spoiling.

You can find all of this information online at: www.pge.com