Electrical Power Outage

Electrical Power Outage icon

All University buildings use electricity provided by Lincoln Electric System (LES). In the event of a power outage, the goal is to minimize potential damage to expensive scientific instrumentation, and/or experiments and to avoid the creation of hazardous situations.

If a Power Outage occurs between 7:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

  • Contact the Building Maintenance Reporter (BMR) for your building. The BMR will be aware of routine maintenance. In the event that the outage is not scheduled maintenance, the BMR will call the Facilities Service Desk.
  • If your building does not have a BMR, or you are the BMR and have not been notified of routine maintenance, call the Facilities Service Desk (472-1550) promptly.

Try to obtain the following information prior to calling the Service Desk:

  • Is the entire building or only a portion of the building affected by the power outage?
  • What are the room numbers of the areas involved in the outage?
  • Are there any particularly potentially hazardous or sensitive operations in the affected areas?

If the Facilities Service Desk determines that the power outage is not related to UNL Facilities Management operations, the Facility Service Desk personnel will notify Lincoln Electric System (LES).

If a Power Outage occurs between 5:00 p.m. and 7:30 a.m.

Contact BSM – 402-472-1550.

Try to obtain the following information prior to calling:

  • Is the entire building or only a portion of the building affected by the power outage?
  • What are the room numbers of the areas involved in the outage?
  • Are there any particularly potentially hazardous or sensitive operations in the affected areas?

General Guidance

  • If available, increase natural lighting by opening window shades or other similar actions.
  • Shut off electrical appliances and computers before the power comes back on.
  • Cease activities or operations that involve potentially hazardous conditions.
  • If the outage involves research laboratory and/or animal areas, notify the department head/chair (or University Operator after hours with a request to notify the designated department contact) so that action can be taken to notify Principal Investigators whose areas may need special attention.
  • Secure personal belongings.
  • Use special care while moving about in an under-lighted work area to avoid injury resulting from low slips, trips, or falls.
  • Keep an alternate source of light to facilitate safe exit in the event of a power outage on your person or in your immediate work area. Do not use open flame devices for supplementary lighting.
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