• Your SCE account number
• The address of the power outage, whether the outage is at a residence or a business
• The extent of the outage to the best of your knowledge--for instance, does it include your neighbors or nearby blocks?
• The phone number where you can be reached
• The time that the outage began, to the best of your knowledge.

For more information, visit www.sce.com.

• Always keep a battery-operated flashlight and extra batteries handy.
• Never use candles in a power outage or other emergency.  
• Do not use candles for illumination. They can be fire hazards. 
• Turn off all unnecessary appliances that were in use when the power went out. Leave the water pump, furnace, refrigerator and freezer turned on. Turn off air-conditioning units. 
• Turn off all lights except one to signal you when power is restored.
• Keep the refrigerator and freezer closed to keep from losing the cold air and to keep your food as fresh as possible. If you must eat food that was refrigerated or frozen, check it carefully for signs of spoilage.
• Don't light a fire indoors. Never burn charcoal for heating or cooking indoors.
• Avoid flushing toilets or using excessive water if the home has its own water pump. Small amounts of water can be drawn periodically over a long period of time if the water system was at full pressure when the power went out. With a city water system, water will probably still be available in limited quantity when the power goes out. A toilet can be flushed manually by pouring a bucket of water directly into the stool.
• Make sure you have a phone that does not require electricity to operate. A phone that connects directly into your phone jack in the wall is one that does not need electricity to operate and is definitely a must to have. Limit telephone use during this time unless a public safety or medical emergency exists.
• If you are at home, stay there until the situation is over.
• Keep a battery-operated radio or TV handy to keep abreast of news about the situation.
• Use the fireplace or a natural gas heater (if the gas hasn't been turned off) for heating purposes--but not gas ovens.
• If you have an electrically-operated garage door opener, check to find out how to operate it manually.

If you're in a vehicle during a power outage, follow these important safety tips:

• Avoid unnecessary travel. Traffic signals may be out of service, resulting in traffic jams and unusually hazardous situations.
• STOP at all intersections, then proceed cautiously when traffic permits.
• STOP at all railroad crossings until you're sure the traffic is clear.
• Obey law enforcement officers who are directing traffic.
• If you have to pull off the roadway, use your emergency flashers to alert traffic.
• Watch out for pedestrians along darkened roadways.
• If you see any criminal activity, be a good witness and dial 9-1-1.