Idaho Power understands our communities rely on critical facilities — hospitals, gas stations, sewer plants, police and fire stations, etc. — every day. Here are some tips to help these important institutions prepare for outages and emergencies so they can focus on the essential services they provide.
Make a Plan
- Review federal and state emergency preparedness code requirements, if applicable.
- Develop a power outage communication plan.
- Assign a communication coordinator.
- Create a list of all employee phone numbers, email addresses, and emergency contacts.
- Identify critical operations that need to be functional during an outage, such as security, IT systems, and communication channels.
- Protect and back up critical documents and records.
- Ensure first-aid kits are stocked and exit signs and emergency lighting is working.
- Conduct regular training and drills, including testing your communication plan.
- Communicate and get involved with local agencies, utilities, and emergency services.
Maintain and Test Your Backup Generation
- Inspect and test generator battery starting system (most common point of failure).
- Schedule routine generator operation, maintenance, and load bank tests.
- Ensure adequate fuel supply and understand generator runtime capability.
Stay Informed
- Download Idaho Power’s mobile app.
- Visit Idaho Power’s Outage Map for the latest information if you are without power.
- Contact your local Idaho Power energy advisor or Customer Care Team (208-388-2323) with any questions.
Learn more about how to safely prepare for outages.