{"id":38604,"date":"2023-05-10T13:22:56","date_gmt":"2023-05-10T20:22:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.penlight.org\/?page_id=38604"},"modified":"2023-09-05T10:32:06","modified_gmt":"2023-09-05T17:32:06","slug":"frequently-asked-questions","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.penlight.org\/about-us\/frequently-asked-questions\/","title":{"rendered":"Frequently Asked Questions"},"content":{"rendered":"<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#billing-payment-assistance\">Billing\/Payment\/Assistance<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#prepay\">Prepay<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#conservation\">Conservation<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#general\">General<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#meter-upgrade-project\">Meter Upgrade Project<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#new-modified-electrical-services\">New &amp; Modified Electrical Services<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#surges-surge-protection\">Surges &amp; Surge Protection<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#water\">Water<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Billing\/Payment\/Assistance<\/h2>\n<span class=\"scroll-to\" data-label=\"Scroll to: #billing-payment-assistance\" data-bullet=\"true\" data-link=\"#billing-payment-assistance\" data-title=\"Billing\/Payment\/Assistance\" ><a name=\"billing-payment-assistance\"><\/a><\/span>\n\r\n\r\n\t<div class=\"faqs-list accordion\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-38985\" class=\"accordion-item post-38985 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-faqs\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>I was gone for 2 weeks last month. Why didn\u2019t my bill go down?<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>This is a very confusing situation. The fact is, an empty house can consume as much energy as a full one. An empty house kept at 5\u00ba will not use much less energy than an occupied house kept at 6\u00ba. Clothes drying, cooking, baths and even body heat all contribute heat energy.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-38986\" class=\"accordion-item post-38986 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-faqs\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>Why is my bill so high? My neighbor\u2019s bill is $25 per month less than mine.<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>It could be due to differences in electric lifestyles. Your neighbor\u2019s home may have fewer occupants, less square footage or more insulation. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.penlight.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/Top-Five-Energy-Users.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Top 5 Energy Users in Your Home (PDF)<\/a> shows how to most effectively lower your energy use and costs. Also, for a free online analysis of your home\u2019s energy efficiency and an estimate of how much you might save by upgrading, try our home energy use calculator.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-38988\" class=\"accordion-item post-38988 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-faqs\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>Does Peninsula Light offer a budget payment plan?<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>No. However, you are allowed to create and manage your own budget payment plan using our online automatic payment system. Be sure to watch your actual balance due on your bill to ensure that your budget amount is correct for the amount of energy you use.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-38989\" class=\"accordion-item post-38989 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-faqs\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>What other payment options do I have?<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>You can pay in person at our business office at 13315 Goodnough Drive Northwest Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. We have a drive-up window open the same hours. There is also a drop box at the drive-up window for after-hours payments.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-38990\" class=\"accordion-item post-38990 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-faqs\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>Do you know where I can get help paying my electric bill?<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Yes. During heating season (November through April) we sponsor Project Help, a community funded energy assistance program for local low-income residents. We can also supply you with other agency phone numbers.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-38991\" class=\"accordion-item post-38991 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-faqs\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>I am set up with auto payments. How do I stop getting paper statements?<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Click on Manage Account and log in or register to log into your account. Identify the account you want to make paperless and click on My Profile and then Paperless Options. Select Yes and hit Save Changes.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-38992\" class=\"accordion-item post-38992 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-faqs\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>When will my account be billed?<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>We have four billing cycles depending on the substation you are fed from.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Week 1 = Gig Harbor<\/li>\n<li>Week 2 = Narrows and Artondale<\/li>\n<li>Week 3 = Minter, Lodholm and Purdy,<\/li>\n<li>Week 4 = Vaughn and Lakebay.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\n<h3>Prepay<\/h3>\n<span class=\"scroll-to\" data-label=\"Scroll to: #prepay\" data-bullet=\"true\" data-link=\"#prepay\" data-title=\"Prepay\" ><a name=\"prepay\"><\/a><\/span>\n\r\n\r\n\t<div class=\"faqs-list accordion\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-39001\" class=\"accordion-item post-39001 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-prepay\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>How do I go back to monthly billings?<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>There are 2 options that will qualify you to return to monthly billing:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>You must pay off your debt in full and pay a deposit (twice your highest bill)<\/li>\n<li>You can choose to pay off your debt and maintain prepay service for 12 months without a disconnect<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-39000\" class=\"accordion-item post-39000 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-prepay\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>What happens to my debt?<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>When you establish your prepay account, your total debt is set aside to allow you to continue service and avoid a deposit. With every payment made, 25% is allocated toward paying off your debt until it is paid in full.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-38999\" class=\"accordion-item post-38999 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-prepay\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>How do I get my service reconnected?<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>If your service is disconnected for a negative balance, you must pay enough to bring your account to a positive balance before electric service is reconnected. Once a sufficient payment is made, your service should be reconnected within an hour.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-38998\" class=\"accordion-item post-38998 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-prepay\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>How can I avoid having my prepaid electric service disconnected?<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>To avoid an interruption in service, it is important to keep your account balance at or above $0 or your service will be disconnected.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-38997\" class=\"accordion-item post-38997 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-prepay\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>Prepay: How and when will I be notified if my balance is low?<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>You have 4 options:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Email<\/li>\n<li>Text<\/li>\n<li>Automated phone call<\/li>\n<li>Or all of the above<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The following notifications will be sent to you:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Low balance at 7 days, 3 days, or 1 day of remaining power<\/li>\n<li>Daily balance notifications<\/li>\n<li>Negative balance and pending disconnect<\/li>\n<li>Payments and adjustments<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-38996\" class=\"accordion-item post-38996 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-prepay\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>What fees will I be charged?<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>There is a monthly prepay service fee of $4 that is prorated on a daily basis. However, there are no more late fees, collection fees, or reconnect fees.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-38994\" class=\"accordion-item post-38994 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-prepay\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>Will I receive a bill?<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>No. Members with prepay do not receive a monthly bill.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-38993\" class=\"accordion-item post-38993 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-prepay\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>How do I check my balance, usage and make payments?<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>You may check your daily usage, your balance and make payments by logging in to your account in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.penlight.org\/\">our homepage<\/a>, or by calling the automated phone system at <a href=\"tel:+1-877-853-1388\">(877) 853-1388<\/a>.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\n<h2>Conservation<\/h2>\n<span class=\"scroll-to\" data-label=\"Scroll to: #conservation\" data-bullet=\"true\" data-link=\"#conservation\" data-title=\"Conservation\" ><a name=\"conservation\"><\/a><\/span>\n\r\n\r\n\t<div class=\"faqs-list accordion\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-39002\" class=\"accordion-item post-39002 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-conservation\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>What is Green Power?<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>\u201cGreen Power\u201d is generated from the renewable resources of the wind, water and sun. When these resources are used to generate electricity, we get power that is clean and kind to the environment. This is called renewable energy.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-39003\" class=\"accordion-item post-39003 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-conservation\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>What is the difference between energy efficiency and energy conservation?<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Energy efficiency is \u201cusing less energy to provide the same service.\u201d The best way to understand this idea is through examples:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>When you replace a single pane window in your house with an energy-efficient one, the new window prevents heat from escaping in the winter, so you save energy by using your furnace or electric heater less while still staying comfortable. In the summer, efficient windows keep the heat out, so the air conditioner does not run as often and you save electricity.<\/li>\n<li>When you replace an appliance, such as a refrigerator or clothes washer, or office equipment, such as a computer or printer, with a more energy-efficient model, the new equipment provides the same service but uses less energy. This saves you money on your energy bill.<\/li>\n<li>Energy efficiency is not energy conservation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Energy conservation is reducing or going without a service to save energy. For example:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Turning off a light.<\/li>\n<li>Replacing an incandescent lamp with a compact fluorescent lamp, which uses much less energy to produce the same amount of light.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Both efficiency and conservation can save you money and reduce the amount of energy Peninsula Light Company must purchase. Visit our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.penlight.org\/energy-services\/energy-efficiency\/\">Energy Efficiency page<\/a> for residential and commercial incentive information.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\n<h2>General<\/h2>\n<span class=\"scroll-to\" data-label=\"Scroll to: #general\" data-bullet=\"true\" data-link=\"#general\" data-title=\"General\" ><a name=\"general\"><\/a><\/span>\n\r\n\r\n\t<div class=\"faqs-list accordion\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-39006\" class=\"accordion-item post-39006 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-general\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>I want to request a street light for my road, who do I talk to?<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Contact PenLight\u2019s Engineering department at <a href=\"tel:+!-253- 857-1547\">(253) 857-1547<\/a> or <a href=\"mailto:engineering@penlight.org\">email the Engineering Department<\/a>.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-39007\" class=\"accordion-item post-39007 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-general\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>I would like to request a cable locate.<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Peninsula Light Company subcontracts the locating of our underground power lines. In order for the contractor to be notified that a cable locate is needed, you must call the Utilities Underground Location Center (also known as Call Before You Dig) at 811. This is a free service to the public, but state law requires two business days notice (48 hours).<\/p>\n<p>No-cost locates can be requested for PenLight owned underground power lines and vaults. However, PenLight does not provide locates for member owned services on private property, or for any facilities located beyond the member\u2019s meter base.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-39008\" class=\"accordion-item post-39008 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-general\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>Why are my lights flickering?<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>If you notice that your lights are going bright and then dim, turn your main breaker off and call our Member Services at <a href=\"tel:+1-253-857-5950\">(253) 857-5950<\/a> for further assistance.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-39009\" class=\"accordion-item post-39009 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-general\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>I only have partial power, what do I do?<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>If you notice that you\u2019re having problems with your appliances (microwave, oven, TV or furnaces are the most common), or you\u2019ve lost power to part of your house, turn your main breaker off and call our Member Services at <a href=\"tel:+1-253-857-5950\">(253) <\/a><a href=\"tel:+1-253-857-5950\">857-5950<\/a> for further assistance.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-39010\" class=\"accordion-item post-39010 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-general\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>My trees are getting close to the power lines, can I get them trimmed?<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Trees are trimmed so they do not interrupt safe, reliable service to customers. During normal tree-maintenance operations, trees are trimmed so they will not interrupt normal service within 3 to 4 years. Trees under the power lines such as locust, cherry and maple are removed when they\u2019re young because they are fast growers and do not make the normal trim cycle.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-39011\" class=\"accordion-item post-39011 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-general\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>Can I trim my own trees away from the power lines?<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>No. Federal law states that, in order to do any work within 10 feet of any energized primary power lines, you must be line-clearance qualified.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-39012\" class=\"accordion-item post-39012 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-general\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>I have a tree that is leaning toward the power lines. Will you remove it for me?<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Peninsula Light Company\u2019s contracted tree crews trim and remove trees within the 10-foot radius of the power lines. If a homeowner needs to remove a tree that is outside the 10-foot area, a determination will be made by the Staff Certified Arborist on a safe removal plan. Most trees outside the 10-foot area can be safely removed by a qualified tree service. If not, a line drop may be necessary.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-39013\" class=\"accordion-item post-39013 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-general\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>Can I receive wood chips from the tree crews?<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Yes. Presently, there is a high demand for wood chips to be left on homeowners\u2019 properties. You can ask to be put on a permanent chip list so that every three to four years, when the crews are in your area, you can get them dumped at your property. In order to apply for a permit for a wood chip debris site, call <a href=\"tel:+1-253-857-5950\">253-857-5950<\/a>, ext. 571, and a form will be sent to you.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-39014\" class=\"accordion-item post-39014 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-general\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>What is PenLight\u2019s residential rate?<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Visit our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.penlight.org\/about\/rate-schedule\/\">Rate Schedule page<\/a> to view current rates.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-39015\" class=\"accordion-item post-39015 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-general\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>How can I get involved to help keep the rates low?<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>PenLight encourages its members to write their members of Congress about how electric rates are impacting their family budget or business. You may also want to join PenLight\u2019s Ambassador Program, which is a grassroots effort to influence state and federal policies that impact electric rates.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\n<h2>Meter Upgrade Project<\/h2>\n<span class=\"scroll-to\" data-label=\"Scroll to: #meter-upgrade-project\" data-bullet=\"true\" data-link=\"#meter-upgrade-project\" data-title=\"Meter Upgrade Project\" ><a name=\"meter-upgrade-project\"><\/a><\/span>\n\r\n\r\n\t<div class=\"faqs-list accordion\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-38933\" class=\"accordion-item post-38933 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-meter-upgrade-project\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>What are upgraded meters?<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Advanced meters support a variety of services that allow you more flexibility and control of your utility use and costs and help us operate more efficiently by helping restore service quicker and reduce the length of outages and system emergencies.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-38934\" class=\"accordion-item post-38934 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-meter-upgrade-project\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>How do the upgraded meters work?<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Upgraded meters will send usage data to PenLight on a daily basis over Verizon Wireless\u2019 Grid Wide Network, in a form similar to a text. The meter will collect data and send the information to PenLight. Daily reads will be available to members on PenLight\u2019s current tool MyMeter. Visit <a href=\"https:\/\/www.penlight.org\/\">our website<\/a> to sign up.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-38935\" class=\"accordion-item post-38935 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-meter-upgrade-project\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>Why is PenLight upgrading meters?<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>This project is initiated due to current meters reaching their end-of-life and no longer having equipment support.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-38936\" class=\"accordion-item post-38936 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-meter-upgrade-project\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>What are the benefits of upgraded meters?<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Upgraded meters sends electric consumption data to PenLight and the existing MyMeter member portal, more quickly than the current meters. <strong>They will also<\/strong> notify PenLight of variances in voltage and other line conditions, which will help maintain a more reliable power distribution system. Meters will be able to locate issues or outages faster, and more accurately, to help restore service quicker and provide clear usage information and allows members to setup and receive personalized alerts via MyMeter. Upgraded meters will also allow PenLight\u2019s Member Services department to request instantaneous reads for opening and closing of accounts, verification of readings for high bill research and more.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-38937\" class=\"accordion-item post-38937 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-meter-upgrade-project\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>Have other utilities installed upgraded meters?<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Many utilities across the United States have updated their metering system, including; Mason PUD 3, Hawaii Electric, Tacoma Power Utilities, Puget Sound Energy.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-38938\" class=\"accordion-item post-38938 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-meter-upgrade-project\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>How long will it take to upgrade all of PenLight\u2019s meters?<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The meter upgrade deployment is anticipated to begin in 2020 with a target completion date of late 2020\/early 2021. Timeline and updated information will continue to be published throughout the project to keep our members up-to-date with progress.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-38939\" class=\"accordion-item post-38939 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-meter-upgrade-project\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>How long will installation of the upgraded meter take on my house?<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The average meter installation is anticipated to take about 20 minutes. There are factors that may cause the installation to be delayed like equipment\/meter damage, tampering issues or repairs needed.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-38940\" class=\"accordion-item post-38940 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-meter-upgrade-project\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>Will I lose service upon installation?<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Yes, you will lose service for approximately 3 to 5 minutes while the old meter is removed and the upgraded meter is installed.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-38941\" class=\"accordion-item post-38941 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-meter-upgrade-project\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>Will the Meter Upgrade Project raise my rates?<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>No, this project did not drive any changes in rates. Any changes in rates will not be driven by this program. Today, all metering related expenses are captured in our ongoing budgets.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-38942\" class=\"accordion-item post-38942 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-meter-upgrade-project\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>Will I have to pay a fee to get my upgraded meter installed?<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>No, there is no fee for the installation of a new meter. If any repairs or improvements need to be made to equipment or your current meter, fees may be applied \u2013 this will be on a case by case basis and PenLight will make any repairs within our jurisdiction to limit\/avoid any costs to members.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-38943\" class=\"accordion-item post-38943 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-meter-upgrade-project\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>How will my bill be affected?<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The only change you will see on your bill is the last read from your old meter, and a new read from the new meter, once installed. Like any new equipment, the upgraded meters will be more efficient due to modern technology.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-38944\" class=\"accordion-item post-38944 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-meter-upgrade-project\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>Can I choose not to have an upgraded meter?<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>All of our members\u2019 homes and businesses should be equipped with upgraded meters. The efficiency of our billing and electrical system operations depend upon the instantaneous exchange of information, so all parts of our system must be integrated. Leaving existing meters in place would create \u201choles\u201d in our system and would drive up costs.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-38945\" class=\"accordion-item post-38945 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-meter-upgrade-project\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>Are the upgraded meters safe?<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Yes, these meters are subject to rigorous, advanced testing. PenLight ensures that the meters meet industry safety standards and are of no issue to your safety or health.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-38946\" class=\"accordion-item post-38946 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-meter-upgrade-project\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>How will PenLight protect my privacy?<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>No customer-identifying data \u2013 such as names and addresses \u2013 is stored in the meters or transmitted across the network.<\/p>\n<p>Just like the current meters, the upgraded meters will simply collect how much energy is being used. The meters encrypt energy use information to ensure privacy, and transmit it to us over a wireless network with multiple layers of security.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-38947\" class=\"accordion-item post-38947 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-meter-upgrade-project\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>How will you use the data collected from my meter?<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>PenLight must collect data from the meters to provide service. Like today, the data will be used for billing purposes, operational analysis and planning.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-38948\" class=\"accordion-item post-38948 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-meter-upgrade-project\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>Will net metering customers be included in the meter upgrade?<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Yes, solar customers will be equipped with an upgraded meter.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-38949\" class=\"accordion-item post-38949 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-meter-upgrade-project\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>Will the upgraded meter affect devices in my home?<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>No, like the current meter, the upgraded meters will have no effect on devices near it.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-38950\" class=\"accordion-item post-38950 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-meter-upgrade-project\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>Who can I contact for more information?<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Please <a href=\"mailto:penlight@penlight.org\">email Penlight<\/a>.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-38951\" class=\"accordion-item post-38951 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-meter-upgrade-project\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>I noticed a green and\/or red light on the upgraded meter \u2013 what do the lights mean?<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Both red and green lights are normal. They represent the meter\u2019s signal status or strength at that given moment. They can remain red or green for an extended amount of time. The lights do not indicate that the meter is transmitting and are only useful to the utility if\/when onsite.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\n<h2>New &amp; Modified Electrical Services<\/h2>\n<span class=\"scroll-to\" data-label=\"Scroll to: #new-modified-electrical-services\" data-bullet=\"true\" data-link=\"#new-modified-electrical-services\" data-title=\"New &amp; Modified Electrical Services\" ><a name=\"new-modified-electrical-services\"><\/a><\/span>\n\r\n\r\n\t<div class=\"faqs-list accordion\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-39019\" class=\"accordion-item post-39019 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-new-and-modified-electrical-services\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>How do I schedule a new service hookup?<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>All new construction projects, including new service hookups, are initiated through our Engineering Department, which releases projects to the Operations Department once all the requirements are met. Service hookups are automatically scheduled unless the Engineer has noted other types of arrangements, such as Customer to coordinate, pre-construction meeting required, etc.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-39020\" class=\"accordion-item post-39020 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-new-and-modified-electrical-services\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>What do I need to do to relocate or to increase the size of my electrical service panel?<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Call the Engineering Department to discuss your plans. All new and modified services are required to be placed underground. We will work with you to determine the size of panel you need. The typical electrical service panel is now rated at 200 amps and is suitable for most customers.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-39021\" class=\"accordion-item post-39021 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-new-and-modified-electrical-services\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>Why are all new and modified services required to be placed underground?<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>In 1993, the Board of Directors approved the requirement that all new and modified services are required to be placed underground. Surveys of our membership have supported this requirement in an effort to provide more reliable and aesthetically pleasing service to our membership. The majority of service-related outages have been attributed to trees falling on the service drops; when they are underground, that can\u2019t happen.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-39022\" class=\"accordion-item post-39022 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-new-and-modified-electrical-services\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>How deep should my service trench be?<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Minimum required cover is 24 inches.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-39023\" class=\"accordion-item post-39023 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-new-and-modified-electrical-services\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>Can phone, TV cable, and gas go in the same trench?<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Yes, with a minimum of 6 inches of horizontal and vertical separation.  Gas lines require a minimum of 12 inches of horizontal separation.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-39024\" class=\"accordion-item post-39024 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-new-and-modified-electrical-services\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>Can I put my sewer tight line in the same trench as my service cable?<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Yes, but there must be a minimum of 4 feet separation.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-39025\" class=\"accordion-item post-39025 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-new-and-modified-electrical-services\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>Can I install my own electrical service?<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Yes, but all work must be approved by the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries Electrical Division.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-39026\" class=\"accordion-item post-39026 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-new-and-modified-electrical-services\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>Can I directly bury my underground conductor?<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Yes. However, we recommend all service conductors to be in gray-wall, electrical-approved conduit.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-39027\" class=\"accordion-item post-39027 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-new-and-modified-electrical-services\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>Can I have my meter base installed on the back of the house?<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>No. Please contact the Engineering Department with regard to approved meter base locations.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-39028\" class=\"accordion-item post-39028 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-new-and-modified-electrical-services\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>If the power lines in my area are being converted from overhead to underground, do I have to convert (underground) my overhead service to my house?<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>No. However, we are currently offering incentives to encourage our members. We will provide the necessary conduit and wire, and we will waive the trip fees if the service is converted within6 months of our system conversion in your area. Members are responsible for hiring an electrician, providing the trench and arranging any necessary permits and inspections. The Engineering Department can provide trenching specifications, as well as information on state permits and inspection requirements.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-39029\" class=\"accordion-item post-39029 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-new-and-modified-electrical-services\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>Can I buy my service wire from PLC?<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>No. PLC does not sell underground service conductors, wire or meter bases.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-39030\" class=\"accordion-item post-39030 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-new-and-modified-electrical-services\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>Do you have a locator service? We are building a garage and don\u2019t want to disturb any utilities.<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>To locate underground utilities, call 811.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-39031\" class=\"accordion-item post-39031 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-new-and-modified-electrical-services\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>What size wire should I run for my service?<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The meter base size determines which size service conductor you need to purchase. Typical service conductors include:<\/p>\n<div>\n<table style=\"width: 100%\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th>Service Rating<\/th>\n<th>Maximum<\/th>\n<th>Distance Conductor<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>200 amp<\/td>\n<td>220 feet<\/td>\n<td>4\/0\u20134\/0\u20132\/0 Aluminum (1 run)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>200 amp<\/td>\n<td>250 feet<\/td>\n<td>250\u2013250\u20133\/0 Aluminum (1 run)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>200 amp<\/td>\n<td>340 feet<\/td>\n<td>350\u2013350\u20134\/0 Aluminum (1 run)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>320 amp<\/td>\n<td>220 feet<\/td>\n<td>4\/0\u20134\/0\u20132\/0 Aluminum (2 runs)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>320 amp<\/td>\n<td>250 feet<\/td>\n<td>250\u2013250\u20133\/0 Aluminum (2 runs)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>320 amp<\/td>\n<td>340 feet<\/td>\n<td>350\u2013350\u20134\/0 Aluminum (2 runs)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\n<h2>Surges &amp; Surge Protection<\/h2>\n<span class=\"scroll-to\" data-label=\"Scroll to: #surges-surge-protection\" data-bullet=\"true\" data-link=\"#surges-surge-protection\" data-title=\"Surges &amp; Surge Protection\" ><a name=\"surges-surge-protection\"><\/a><\/span>\n\r\n\r\n\t<div class=\"faqs-list accordion\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-39032\" class=\"accordion-item post-39032 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-surges-and-surge-protection\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>What is a surge?<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>A surge occurs when the power line voltage goes higher than nominal and lasts longer than 10 milliseconds. There are three main forms of power interference: voltage dips, electromagnetic interference, and surges. Surges can occur on your electric, phone or even cable TV lines. Every piece of electrical equipment in your home is designed to operate at a specified nominal voltage such as 120 Volts AC. Most equipment is designed to handle minor variations in their standard nominal operating voltage; however, even the smallest power surges can be very damaging to nearly all equipment.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-39033\" class=\"accordion-item post-39033 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-surges-and-surge-protection\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>What causes power surges?<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>90% of all electrical surges or transient voltage activity is generated within homes and businesses. In homes, most surges occur when motor-driven devices such as refrigerators, televisions, hair dryers, water pumps, etc. shut off. Suddenly the energy these devices were consuming is diverted elsewhere in the form of excess voltage. Surges at businesses are caused by elevators, air conditioners, vending machines, copiers, large computers, even lights turning on and off, resulting in rushes of power and transient voltages back up the line.<\/p>\n<p>10% of the problem is generated outside the home or office by events such as utility grid switching, line slapping, bad wiring, etc. Surges also happen when the electric company switches power from one geographic area of the grid to another as supply and demand in the region changes. Thunderstorms and lightening are the most dramatic and destructive causes of power line problems.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-39034\" class=\"accordion-item post-39034 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-surges-and-surge-protection\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>How often do these disturbances occur?<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Because we use so many appliances and equipment such as refrigerators, pumps, heating and air conditioning systems all the time, disturbances happen frequently. A 17-month study done by IBM in 49 cities across the country found that an average of 128.3 disturbances happened in each monitored facility every month. Most were surges that did not cause immediate damage, but which could wear down equipment over time.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-39035\" class=\"accordion-item post-39035 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-surges-and-surge-protection\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>Can surges cause damage?<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Yes. Today\u2019s computerized appliances and electronics can be damaged or destroyed by over-voltage surges or spikes. That includes computer equipment and peripherals; electronic equipment such as stereos, TVs and VCRs; household appliances, including washers, dryers, refrigerators, dishwashers, microwaves, food processors, blenders and can openers; and other electronic devices such as fax machines, telephones and answering machines. Any electronic device that contains a microprocessor is susceptible to damage from transient voltages.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-39036\" class=\"accordion-item post-39036 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-surges-and-surge-protection\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>How big is the problem?<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>According to one of the country\u2019s largest casualty loss insurers, over 63% of all loss-pay-outs on electronic equipment are due to power problems. Consumers can guard against these problems and prevent costly repairs only through the use of good quality surge suppressors.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-39037\" class=\"accordion-item post-39037 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-surges-and-surge-protection\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>Can a surge harm my equipment if I am not using it?<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Yes. Many electrical devices have electronic timers, clocks or remote controls (TVs, VCRs), which remain in operation even when it is not in use. Also, some appliances cycle off and on at random, such as air conditioners, water heaters, pumps or refrigerators, and they could be on during a surge.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-39038\" class=\"accordion-item post-39038 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-surges-and-surge-protection\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>Why do I need surge protection?<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>There are several reasons why power quality has become such an important issue:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Today\u2019s computer chips are far more dense than they were even a few years ago, and subsequently, they\u2019re much more sensitive to even slight surges.<\/li>\n<li>Clock speeds, or operating frequencies, have increased and reached the frequency range of high-voltage transients. Slower processors ignored them, but high-speed processors may actually interpret a transient as a command sequence.<\/li>\n<li>Most homes and offices are using more pieces of equipment than ever before. Each time an electric device is turned on, transient voltages may be generated.<\/li>\n<li>More microprocessor technology is being used than ever before. Microprocessors are showing up in personal computers, TVs, stereos, VCRs, refrigerators, washers, dryers, microwaves, dishwashers, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-39039\" class=\"accordion-item post-39039 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-surges-and-surge-protection\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>Won\u2019t my circuit breakers protect my equipment?<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>No. Circuit breakers are only designed to protect against over-current, not a spike or drop in voltage. Common AC circuit breakers don\u2019t react quickly enough to protect sensitive electronic equipment.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-39040\" class=\"accordion-item post-39040 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-surges-and-surge-protection\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>What is a Surge Protector?<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Surge Protectors are designed to reduce and divert potentially damaging short-duration voltage spikes safely out of the system to Ground. This is similar in concept to pressure relief valves that protect water heaters from overpressure. It is a common misconception that surge protectors \u201cabsorb\u201d surges when in fact their purpose is to divert the surge away from the protected equipment to Ground.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-39041\" class=\"accordion-item post-39041 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-surges-and-surge-protection\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>How do surge suppressors work?<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Suppressors work by absorbing some of the electrical surge and diverting the rest to the ground. The top brands use sophisticated components that allow them to react quickly (surges often last just millionths of a second) yet endure high voltages. Surge suppressors are not lightning arresters. They may not survive direct lightning strikes or sustained line over-voltages (broken neutral).<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-39042\" class=\"accordion-item post-39042 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-surges-and-surge-protection\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>What is Whole House Surge Protection?<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Whole House Surge Protection is a system of surge protectors working together to eliminate surges from a number of external and internal sources. Applying surge protectors at the incoming electrical, cable\/satellite, and telephone utility services keep externally generated surges from entering your home. Localized surge protectors applied to sensitive electronics safeguard against internally generated surges.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-39043\" class=\"accordion-item post-39043 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-surges-and-surge-protection\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>Why do I need a surge protection system?<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The problems caused by disturbances in the power line may not surface immediately. They can cause the gradual breakdown of electronic circuitry. Any piece of electronic equipment that behaves in an erratic fashion may need a surge protector. However, new equipment should be protected when installed.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-39044\" class=\"accordion-item post-39044 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-surges-and-surge-protection\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>Will these devices prevent my clocks from blinking?<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>No. Neither the main, interior, nor exterior zone protectors can eliminate blinking clocks. Blinking is caused by momentary sags or outages, which are solved by the use of a UPS unit or buying electronics with built-in battery backup.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-39045\" class=\"accordion-item post-39045 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-surges-and-surge-protection\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>What is the purpose of the phone jacks on surge suppressors?<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Some of the surge suppressors incorporate protection circuitry for telephone lines. There are 2 sockets on these products. By plugging a phone line through the sockets, you can minimize the effects of a surge coming into your equipment through the phone line. Fax machines, cordless phones and answering machines are especially sensitive, and computers with internal modems can be completely destroyed by spikes on a phone line.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-39046\" class=\"accordion-item post-39046 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-surges-and-surge-protection\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>What should I look for when selecting a Surge Protective Device?<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Any surge protective device that you consider must be listed UL 1449 3rd Edition. All manufacturers UL listings are available for review on the UL website. Be careful not to confuse SPD listed products with secondary surge arrestors such as lightning arrestors. Secondary surge arrestors have a clamping voltage much too high to protect sensitive electronics. When comparing surge protectors it is important to consider both the surge current capacity and clamping voltage to determine the performance of the surge protector.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-39047\" class=\"accordion-item post-39047 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-surges-and-surge-protection\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>What is surge current capacity?<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Surge current capacity is the maximum amount of surge current that a surge protector can pass for a single surge event. This level is used to indicate the protection capacity of a particular surge protector. For example, in a high exposure area with a high likelihood for lightning, a larger surge current capacity might be desired. But, be aware that surges have natural limitations and that larger surge current capacity tends to add redundancy rather than the implied ability to handle an extremely large surge. For example, an entire lightning strike cannot go through wire; much like a fire hose has difficulty shooting through a soda straw. Realistically, surge protectors do not need to be sized for entire lightning strikes. But, there are valid reasons for adding excess surge current capacity for redundancy reasons.<\/p>\n<p>The surge protection industry uses kiloamperage (kA) as a measure of the products surge current capacity. kA ratings at or above 10kA (10,000 Amperes) are generally acceptable.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-39048\" class=\"accordion-item post-39048 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-surges-and-surge-protection\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>What Joule rating should I choose?<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Many homeowners look at Joule ratings to determine which surge protector to purchase. Unfortunately, Joule ratings can be misleading according to IEEE research. When a surge protector is submitted for third party testing with Underwriters Laboratories (UL), a Joule rating is not a tested parameter. Joule ratings are an unreliable measurement for determining a products surge capacity because there is no test standard. The Joule rating listed on a surge protector\u2019s package is determined using an unknown method by the manufacturer.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-39049\" class=\"accordion-item post-39049 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-surges-and-surge-protection\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>What is clamping voltage?<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Clamping voltage, also referred to as let through voltage or the Voltage Protection Rating (VPR), is the amount of voltage a surge protector permits to pass through it to the attached load (ex: a TV) during a surge event. Clamping voltage is a performance measurement of a surge protector\u2019s ability to attenuate a surge, or more simply, to reduce the surge to a manageable level. For example, a surge protector might limit a 6,000V surge so that only 600V is \u2018visible\u2019 to the load. The clamping voltage is 600V. This performance value is confirmed by Underwriters Laboratories during tests conducted while evaluating a surge protector for listing.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-39050\" class=\"accordion-item post-39050 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-surges-and-surge-protection\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>My electronics have built-in surge protection. Why do I need more?<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Built-in surge protectors often aren\u2019t strong enough to handle larger surges and spikes and, like other smaller surge protectors, can wear out without your even knowing it, leaving you with no protection at all. Built-in protection for one piece of equipment may still leave you without protection for important peripherals such as answering machines, modems, printers, etc. In addition, built-in protectors don\u2019t provide back-up power which lets you perform orderly shut-downs.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-39051\" class=\"accordion-item post-39051 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-surges-and-surge-protection\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>How much should I spend on surge protection?<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>10% of the purchase price of a solid-state system is a good value for insurance against power disturbances.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-39052\" class=\"accordion-item post-39052 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-surges-and-surge-protection\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>How do I hook up my plug-in surge protector?<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Plug the surge protector into a powered wall outlet. Be sure the switch on the surge protector is set \u201c<strong>on<\/strong>\u201d by pushing down on the reset side. If the surge protector has LEDs, be sure they are lighted according to the enclosed instruction manual. If not check your wall outlet. Connect equipment into the outlets on the power strip or surge protector. Be sure to plug in your phone\/fax or TV\/coax if surge protector has this option.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-39054\" class=\"accordion-item post-39054 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-surges-and-surge-protection\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>What is the purpose of the phone jacks on surge suppressors?<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Some of the surge suppressors incorporate protection circuitry for the telephone line. There are 2 sockets on these products. By plugging a phone line through the sockets, you can minimize the effects of a surge coming into your equipment through the phone line. Facsimile machines, cordless phones and answering machines are especially sensitive, and computers with internal modems can be completely destroyed by spikes on the phone line.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-39055\" class=\"accordion-item post-39055 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-surges-and-surge-protection\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>Is the UL label an indication of a quality product?<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Surge suppressors should perform to a specific standard (UL 1449). It is important that the surge suppressor is \u201clisted\u201d as performing to this standard. Avoid suppressors with labels worded like:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Tested to UL 1449<\/li>\n<li>UL Classified<\/li>\n<li>Tested to IEEE C62.41<\/li>\n<li>Meets UL 1449<\/li>\n<li>UL Recognized<\/li>\n<li>Temporary Power Tap<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Many manufacturers misrepresent their products. Some claim a UL listing for their products if they use a single UL listed component such as the power cord. Other products have never been tested as anything more than a temporary power tap, UL\u2019s term for an extension cord. Many claim that they meet standards or that it has passed UL standards, when in fact, they have never been tested by UL.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-39056\" class=\"accordion-item post-39056 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-surges-and-surge-protection\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>Can I daisy chain surge protectors?<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>No. Surge protectors must be plugged directly into a grounded outlet to work properly. (Underwriters Laboratories prohibits daisy chaining) Never plug a surge protector into a plug strip or plug adapter.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-39057\" class=\"accordion-item post-39057 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-surges-and-surge-protection\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>How do I reset my Surge Protector?<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Panel mount surge protectors cannot be \u201creset.\u201d Once they have reached the end of their useful lifecycle the indicator light will extinguish and the product will need to be replaced.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-39058\" class=\"accordion-item post-39058 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-surges-and-surge-protection\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>What if my TV (or appliance) is damaged, but the surge suppressor\u2019s lights are still on?<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Then a transient did not damage the appliance. The units are designed to show evidence of a transient passing through it. If the lights are on, there is some other cause of the damage to the appliance.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-39059\" class=\"accordion-item post-39059 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-surges-and-surge-protection\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>What is a UPS?<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>An Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) is a device that sits between a power supply (e.g., wall outlet) and a device (e.g., computer) to prevent undesired features of the power source (outages, sags, surges, bad harmonics, etc.) from adversely affecting the performance of the device. A UPS provides a conditioned and reliable source of power to your electronic equipment when the main power source fails. The better units protect against surges and spikes in the power source, and they provide a continuing source of battery power.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-39060\" class=\"accordion-item post-39060 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-surges-and-surge-protection\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>What is the function of a UPS?<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>A UPS performs the following functions:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Absorb relatively small power surges<\/li>\n<li>Smooth out noisy power sources<\/li>\n<li>Continuously provides power to equipment during line sags<\/li>\n<li>Automatically shuts down equipment during long power outages<\/li>\n<li>Monitoring and logging of the status of the power supply<\/li>\n<li>Display the voltage\/current draw of the equipment<\/li>\n<li>Restart equipment after a long power outage<\/li>\n<li>Display the voltage currently on the power line<\/li>\n<li>Provide alarms on certain error conditions<\/li>\n<li>Provide short-circuit protection<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-39061\" class=\"accordion-item post-39061 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-surges-and-surge-protection\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>How long will equipment on a UPS keep running after the power goes out?<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>For most computer workstations, one might have a UPS that was rated to keep the machine alive through a 15-minute power loss. If you need a machine to survive hours without power, you should probably look at a more robust power backup solution. Even if a UPS has a very small load, it must still operate a DC (battery) to AC converter, which uses power.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-39062\" class=\"accordion-item post-39062 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-surges-and-surge-protection\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>How much backup power do I need?<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Within reason, there is never too much battery available. More batteries cost more, take up more room and weigh more. But the more battery power, the longer the UPS can operate without an external source of power. One solution is to have 2 to 4 hours of backup battery available and have a generator that can be used to recharge the batteries and run your systems after the batteries have been depleted. For larger installations, it is sometimes more economical to use automatic-starting generators rather than using more batteries.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\n<h2>Water<\/h2>\n<span class=\"scroll-to\" data-label=\"Scroll to: #water\" data-bullet=\"true\" data-link=\"#water\" data-title=\"Water\" ><a name=\"water\"><\/a><\/span>\n\r\n\r\n\t<div class=\"faqs-list accordion\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-39064\" class=\"accordion-item post-39064 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-water\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>Why does water sometimes look cloudy when first drawn from a tap?<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The cloudy water is caused by tiny air bubbles in the water similar to the gas bubbles in carbonated soft drinks. After a while, the bubbles rise to the top and are gone.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-39065\" class=\"accordion-item post-39065 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-water\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>Should I buy bottled water?<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Public drinking water is one of the most regulated industries in the United States today. If you want a drink with a different taste, you can buy bottled water, but it costs about 1,000 times as much as tap water. Remember that the U.S. bottled-water industry is less regulated than public drinking water systems. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration only requires that the bottled water be clear and safe for human consumption. The quality of the finished product is not monitored (i.e., the FDA imposes no specific water quality requirements on bottled water). Certain bottlers simply fill their bottles with city drinking water, thus producing \u201cbottled water.\u201d Studies have shown that microbes grow in the bottles while on grocers\u2019 shelves. Bottled water is popular; its use in the United States has doubled in the last 6 years.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-39066\" class=\"accordion-item post-39066 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-water\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>What activity in my home uses the most water?<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Toilet flushing is by far the largest single use of water in a home. Most toilets use from 4 to 6 gallons of water for each flush. On average, a dishwasher uses about 50% less water than the amount used when washing and rinsing dishes by hand.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-39067\" class=\"accordion-item post-39067 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-water\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>Should I put a brick in my toilet tank to conserve water?<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Toilet flushing uses a lot of water, but a brick in your toilet tank is not a good idea. A brick tends to crumble and might damage the toilet\u2019s mechanism. A glass jar or plastic jug filled with water works well. After any changes, be sure to test the toilet to make sure it\u2019s still working properly. Flow restrictors in shower heads and faucets are another good way to conserve water.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-39068\" class=\"accordion-item post-39068 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-water\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>You must have read the meter wrong. I couldn\u2019t have used this much water!<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>You can check your water meter. Just open the box and compare the reading to the one printed on your bill. It should be a bit larger. If it isn\u2019t, we have misread. Please call us at <a href=\"tel:+1-253-857-1510\">(253) 857-1510<\/a> so we can get the situation corrected. If the reading checks out, you may have a water leak. The next time your house will be empty for two or more hours, record the meter reading as you leave. Repeat this as you return. If the reading has changed, you have a leak somewhere.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-39069\" class=\"accordion-item post-39069 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-water\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>I like a green lawn, but I don\u2019t water this much!<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Do you have an underground sprinkler system? They are notorious for leaks. The way to tell is to turn the timer off for a few days and watch for \u201cgreen spots\u201d (or turn the timer off and follow directions in the first question).<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-39070\" class=\"accordion-item post-39070 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-water\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>There is no way my meter was read. I just looked, and the box is full of dirt, same as last week. Do you ever read them or just estimate?<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Your meter is read every month. The reader shovels out just enough dirt to see the register and a mole can cover it back over in just a matter of minutes.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-39071\" class=\"accordion-item post-39071 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-water\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>I know I waste water. How can I quit using so much and keep my bill down?<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Peninsula Light has several brochures on ways to save water, both indoors and out. They are entitled \u201cGuidelines 1 inch to 4 inches and are located in the community information center in the lobby.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-39072\" class=\"accordion-item post-39072 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-water\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>How do I know my water is safe to drink?<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Peninsula Light employs three state-certified Water Distribution Managers. They are responsible to see that each water system we own or manage is in compliance with all water quality standards. Your water is tested regularly by a state-certified laboratory. If any health risks are detected, you are notified directly and given instructions on what to do.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<article id=\"post-39073\" class=\"accordion-item post-39073 hwcp-faqs type-hwcp-faqs status-publish hentry faqs_category-water\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"accordion-title plain\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"toggle\"><i class=\"icon-angle-down\"><\/i><\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>I have a water leak and can\u2019t find a shut-off valve. What do I do?<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion-inner\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Contact your water supplier. They will explain their policy.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/article>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Billing\/Payment\/Assistance Prepay Conservation General Meter Upgrade Project New &amp; Modified Electrical Services Surges &amp; Surge Protection Water Billing\/Payment\/Assistance Prepay Conservation General Meter Upgrade Project New &amp; Modified Electrical Services Surges &amp; Surge Protection Water<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":0,"parent":38541,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.penlight.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/38604"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.penlight.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.penlight.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.penlight.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.penlight.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=38604"}],"version-history":[{"count":16,"href":"https:\/\/www.penlight.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/38604\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":139080,"href":"https:\/\/www.penlight.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/38604\/revisions\/139080"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.penlight.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/38541"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.penlight.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=38604"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}