Yes. Customers can sign up for outage notifications. Click "manage account", scroll to "contacts & notifications", and click "manage notifications". 

Through advanced technology on KUB's system, electric outages are automatically reported. Confirm an outage using the KUB outage map or the KUB mobile app  or by calling 865-524-2911.  Do not approach downed power lines. Note the location of the downed line(s) and call KUB at 865-524-2911 to report it. 

It is important for customers to be aware of their responsibilities for repairs on customer-owned equipment. Customers may need to make repairs to their equipment before KUB crews can restore power. 

Customers are responsible for clearing any trees or limbs on the service line (the line from KUB’s pole to the customer’s building). Customers should contact KUB to lower the service line (at no charge) before having the work done. 

Customers who have damage to their electric service equipment must contact a qualified electrician to make repairs before KUB can reconnect their electricity. That customer-owned equipment includes the service bracket, weatherhead, service cables, and meter socket. 

Click here for a visual of what equipment is KUB-owned and what equipment is customer-owned. 

After trees or limbs are removed and necessary repairs are made to customer owned equipment, call 865-524-2911 to notify KUB. 

Turn off all appliances that were on at the time of the outage, especially heat pumps, air conditioners, and electric heating. This will prevent an overload on the system when the power comes back on. Leave a light on to know when service is back. Remember to turn the systems back on when the power is restored. 

Avoid opening refrigerators and freezers unnecessarily. If you must open them, plan ahead to grab what is needed as quickly as possible. Keeping the doors closed will help keep the food colder for longer.  A refrigerator can keep its temperature for four hours, and a full freezer for 48 hours (24 hours for half full), if the doors are closed. 

If the power will be out for more than four hours, pack  food into smaller coolers with plenty of ice. Frozen food in a smaller, tightly packed space will stay colder for longer. 

More information about food safety can be found at goodsafety.gov.

Damage Assessors (DA) are sometimes on-site in pickup trucks before line crews to determine what materials and resources crews need to make each repair. Please drive with caution around DA vehicles, as they make frequent stops to inspect damage and collect information. Once DAs relay necessary information to KUB System Operations, they move to the next outage location to assess there. Sites where DAs have completed their assessment are then added to the repair queue for line crews. Line crews in bucket trucks are then able to begin work restoring power as quickly as possible using the information DAs provide. 

Learn more about KUB's outage restoration process. 

When damage causes an outage for a small number of customers - identified by a small, black dot on our outage map - it's common to see neighbors with power. This could happen because your neighbor may be on a different supply line, or there may be damage to only a section of a line supplying your immediate area. The cause of the outage may be isolated to one fuse, one transformer, or a group of transformers.  

Crews may park while they are waiting for their next work assignments, additional line crews to arrive, and additional information necessary to safely complete repairs.  Also, crews traveling in from other areas often assemble at designated staging areas and perform safety briefings before starting their assigned project.  Crews often use computers in their trucks to send status updates or information about storm damage to analysts and field personnel.

Outages related to weather are beyond KUB's control. KUB attempts to restore power as quickly and safely as possible and extensive damage may take several days to repair. As a not-for-profit utility provider, KUB does not reimburse customers for food lost during a weather-related outage event. Customers should contact their homeowners insurance carrier to determine if their policy covers such losses.

KUB is concerned about the safety and well-being of all customers. It is important for all customers to have an emergency outage plan, especially those who must have electricity due to medical necessity. This is particularly important in the case of an extended outage and should include arrangements to move to an alternate location, use a portable generator, and/or install a battery backup. 

KUB maintains a robust infrastructure maintenance and replacement program called Century II. Some Century II construction projects require power to be turned off to safely complete the work. In these cases, customers are notified of a planned power outage via direct mail. Customers may also enroll in outage notifications to be notified of planned outages here. Click "manage account", scroll to "contacts & notifications", and click "manage notifications". A map of planned construction projects can be found here. 

Below are some ways you can prepare for an outage. 

• Keep your KUB account information up-to-date, including your phone number and e-mail address. Update your contact information by logging into your account and choosing “manage account.” This ensures you will receive information from KUB if you are enrolled in notifications. To enroll in notifications,  click "manage account", scroll to "contacts & notifications", and click "manage notifications". 

• Keep emergency supplies on hand such as batteries, flashlights, a battery-operated radio, nonperishable food items, bottled water, small coolers to keep cold good cold, and a charged cell phone. Be aware of where to purchase dry ice or block ice. 

• Group foods together in the freezer, as this help the food stay colder, longer in the event of an outage. However, if the power is already out, keep the freezer door shut. 

• The Red Cross' Survival Kit guide suggests including a supply of necessary medications. 

•  If you plan to use a portable generator, know how to use it safely. Follow the instructions in the owner’s manual, as well as these tips: 

  • Generators should be installed and inspected by licensed electricians. Improperly installed generators can be a safety hazard to utility workers as well as to homeowners. 

  • Never connect the generator to a home's main wiring circuit. Disconnect the home from the power system before hooking up a generator. If the house is not disconnected, electricity may flow backward into the power lines, endangering customers and the lineworkers working to restore power. 

  • Place the generator outside the home. Gasoline-powered generators can produce deadly carbon monoxide. 

  • Plug appliances directly into the generator. Use extension cords if necessary, but do not exceed the recommended wattage noted on the generator. 

Power flickering iscaused by a temporary short circuit, or a fault. Faults can be caused by trees or other vegetation, lightning strikes, animals in lines, or vehicles damaging electric infrastructure. 

These momentary outages are a result of KUB’s electric system re-routing power to shorten the length of the outage. KUB has the capability to return power to customers quickly, due to fiber and fiber-enabled technology across its electric system.  

This type of outage does not cause damage to electronic equipment. A recloser that initiates momentary outages is like a light switch: it just turns the power off and on. But some faults that trigger reclosers (like lightning strikes or vehicles hitting utility poles) may cause power surges that can damage your equipment. You might want to consider a surge protector to help safeguard your equipment. 

Take these steps to minimize the impact from momentary power interruptions:

• Look for built-in protection from brief power interruptions when purchasing your next television, microwave oven, or other electronic device. 
• Use an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) with built-in batteries to power your computer during momentary outages.
• Save computer files frequently and regularly back files up to protect your work.

No. For your safety, do not approached downed power lines, trees leaning on power lines, trees or other vegetation laying on the ground, or other electric equipment for any reason during a power outage. Note the location of the downed lines and call KUB immediately at 865-524-2911. 

Yes. Below are guidelines for proper use of a portable generator. 

• Generators should be installed and inspected by licensed electricians. Improperly installed generators can be a safety hazard to utility workers as well as to homeowners.
• Never connect the generator to your home's main wiring circuit. Disconnect your home from the power system before hooking up a generator. If you don't, electricity may flow backward into the power lines, endangering you, your neighbors, and the lineworkers who are working to restore power.
• Place the generator outside your home. Gasoline powered generators can produce deadly carbon monoxide.
• Plug appliances directly into the generator. Use extension cords if necessary, but do not exceed the recommended wattage noted on the generator.

Everything from car accidents to squirrels can cause power outages. More than half of KUB outages are caused by trees and other vegetation—especially when storms blow trees or limbs into electric lines. KUB prunes trees and other vegetation to minimize outages and help provide safe, reliable service. KUB is also adding fiber and fiber-enabled technology across its electric system that reduces the amount of outages caused by damage. 

KUB tracks outages to help direct efforts to prevent outages and tracks how long customers are without power to get a clearer picture of the overall impact of outages on customers. 

Sometimes KUB plans power outages to safely complete routine work as part of KUB’s robust infrastructure maintenance and replacement program called Century II. In these cases, customers are notified of a planned power outage via direct mail. Customers may also enroll in outage notifications to be notified of planned outages here. Click "manage account", scroll to "contacts & notifications", and click "manage notifications". A map of planned construction projects can be found here.