Safety

Your safety is very important to MGE.

Call MGE's emergency line to report a gas odor or electric outage:

Gas - Madison area calls: 252-1111
Electric - Madison area calls: 252-7111
Long distance calls: 1-800-245-1123

For your safety

Keep electrical equipment and tools in good repair, clean and dry.
Use a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) outlet when using electrical equipment outdoors or in wet locations.
Don't overload circuits. Be sure to use circuits of sufficient amperage for your equipment and tools.
Look up, look around before using forklifts, moving ladders, scaffolds and other long equipment to avoid contact with wiring.
Don't overload extension cords or use them as a substitute for electrical wiring. Check all electrical cords periodically to be sure they are in good condition.
Avoid contact with the overhead electrical service entrance to your building. Take care not to damage overhead or underground service entrances to your building when painting or performing other repairs.
Use electrically qualified personnel to perform electrical work or repairs.

Electrical disturbances

Electric systems are subject to many disturbances which cause momentary or extended power outages.

Outage causes include:

Natural events—storms, animals touching wires or tree branches brushing power lines.
Vehicle accidents that involve electric equipment.
Contractors accidentally digging into lines.
Equipment malfunctions or failure.

Plan ahead for electrical emergencies. Consider:

Emergency lighting system.
Emergency fire pump.
Emergency power system.
Equipment or system shutdown priorities.

If your lights go out

See if your neighboring businesses have power:

If they do, check your fuses or circuit breakers.
If not, look out your windows for anything unusual like fallen wires or tree limbs on a line. Stay away from any downed wires.
Call MGE at 608-252-7111 to report the situation at your business.
Unplug sensitive electronic equipment and turn off light switches to help prevent overloads when power is restored.
Check online for outage information at mge.com/outage.
If your power remains out after your neighboring businesses have lights, call MGE.

If you smell gas

In your building
If you smell a strong, persistent gas odor, immediately:

Put out all open flames.
Don't smoke or light any matches.
Don't touch any electrical light or appliance switches.
Don't use your phone—it may cause a spark.
Stay away from carpeting to avoid static electricity.
Leave the building and call MGE from a neighboring business, away from the gas odor. As you leave, open doors and windows, but only if you can do so quickly and easily.
Stay away from your building until you've been told that it is safe to return.

Outdoors
If you smell natural gas outdoors, call us immediately. If there's a major leak, such as one caused by excavators or a vehicle damaging a gas line:

Call MGE immediately.
Notify the police and fire departments.
Warn others to stay away from the area of the apparent leak.

Signs of a gas leak

Distinctive "rotten egg" odor.
Dead or dying vegetation for no apparent reason.
White cloud, mist, fog, bubbles in standing water or blowing dust.
Unusual noise such as roaring, hissing or whistling.

Emergency phone number correction

MGE's emergency phone number was incorrectly listed by Yellowbook Inc. in its 2012 printed telephone directory. Please use the following phone numbers for emergencies:

Smell natural gas? Leave immediately and call MGE at (608) 252-1111.
Lights out, power line down or other emergency, call (608) 252-7111.
Toll-free emergency, call 1-800-245-1123.

For more information

Business Electric and Gas Safety [303 kB PDF]
Control Natural Gas Emergencies [1.3 MB PDF]
Customer-Owned Natural Gas Pipes
Diggers Hotline
Disaster Recovery Planning
Electric Safety
Electrical Disturbances, How to Protect Businesses [503 kB PDF]
Emergency Responder Training
Energy Emergency Guide [615 kB PDF]
Natural Gas Pipeline and Public Safety [981 kB PDF]
Natural Gas Safety
Portable Generators
Power Outages
Protecting PCs from Power Outages [347 kB PDF]