Outage Center
Before calling to report an outage, check fuses or circuit breakers on your home or outside disconnect to make sure the outage is not due to a tripped breaker or blown fuse. Check if a neighbor’s power is off. This will help you determine if the problem exist within your home, or on Bluestem’s system. If you determine the problem is outside your home, report your outage to Bluestem.
When reporting an outage, provide the Bluestem dispatcher with your account number or phone number on the account and any details related to the outage. Please let us know if you heard a loud bang, saw damaged equipment, or if your neighbors have power, but you do not. We can record those notes into the system to help our crews. Dispatchers are available 24 hours a day.
Once you have reported an outage by calling 800-558-1580 or texting ‘Outage’ to 55050 (Set up outage text reporting)
Turn off all appliances and heating or cooling systems. Leave a light on so you will know when the power is restored. Gradually turn these items back on when the power comes back on. To help preserve food, leave doors to your refrigerator and freezer closed.
Please be patient. During a major outage, Bluestem crews will be working to restore power as soon as possible. Call volume can be high, so keep trying if you are not able to reach our office.
Power is restored at the point where power feeds into Bluestem’s system. This may be the substation, transmission line, or a main distribution line (ie. three-phase primary feeder lines). After repairs have been made, crews work on remaining outages which may include single-phase primary feeder lines or individual residential services.
It is impossible for Bluestem to guarantee the electricity will not go off. Farm equipment and automobiles occasionally hit poles and tear the lines down, lightning strikes, and ice storms come. Occasionally, our power supplier sustains damage to its equipment, which stops the flow of power to Bluestem.
To eliminate as many problems as possible, we suggest the member plans in advance:
- Contact the Bluestem office at 800-558-1580 and advise them of your situation.
- Look into obtaining a personal emergency standby generator.
- Have a double-pole, double-throw switch installed for the standby generator.
- Remember, Bluestem is concerned about your well-being. If we can help, we will. By working together now, we can reduce those problems you face when the electricity goes off.
If you or a member of your family requires special breathing or health equipment, please notify Bluestem. Your name and location will be included on our Medical Alert Listing.
- STORMS — Conditions brought on by storms such as high winds, ice and lightning can interrupt service.
- TREES AND VEGETATION – Branches, limbs or trunks can fall on lines and vegetation (such as vines) can grow around poles, lines or other equipment.
- ANIMALS — Many outages are caused by our furry friend the squirrel. Other critters like racoons and snakes can interfere with service too.
- ACCIDENTS — Cars, trucks, and farm equipment that have a run-in with a utility pole can cause an outage.
- PUBLIC DAMAGE — Unsafe digging, equipment or line damage, vandalism or theft can all cause interruptions in the energy chain.
- OVERLOAD — This happens where demand spikes, such as when too many air conditioners run on a hot summer day, causing blackouts or brownouts.
- EQUIPMENT issues — We maintain and inspect all of our lines and equipment regularly; however, sometimes equipment malfunctions. We strive to address any problem as soon as it happens.
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Report the issue to Bluestem immediately by calling 800-558-1580. If there is a fire or medical emergency, please dial 911. Make sure all individuals and pets stay away from the power line and any objects that may be touching.
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