What Do I Need To Do To Have My Electrical Service Upgraded or Relocated?
First, you need to hire a qualified, licensed electrician to perform the work on your electrical service. The electrician must then contact us at 301.790-2600 to request a drawing from us showing any necessary changes to your outside service connection to our power lines and/or meter location.
What Parts Of My Electric Service Are My Responsibility?
Depending on your particular situation, your responsibility can vary. However, in general the following would apply:
If your service comes in from a pole, everything from the point of contact of the service wires at the service head (located at the top of the house) including the service head is your responsibility, with the exception of the electric meter which is owned and maintained by us. If your service comes in underground, everything from where the conduit comes up from ground level is your responsibility, with the exception of the electric meter which is owned and maintained by us.
What Should I Do If My Power Goes Out?
First, check your fuse or breaker box to see if the problem is there. If you are not familiar with how to check these boxes, do not attempt to do so. Get someone who does know how. Also, check with your neighbors to see if their power is on. If you live in an apartment building and believe the problem is internal, let the owner of the building know immediately. If you believe that the problem is not internal, please contact us at 301.790-2600, anytime day or night. Please do your best to ensure that the problem is not internal. If a lineworker is dispatched to investigate, and it turns out to be an internal problem, a charge of $85 will be billed to you. If it is our problem, then, of course, no bill will be rendered.
Do You Trim Trees From Around The Service Wires Leading Into My Home?
If the tree is on privately owned property, we do not trim branches away from your service wires. However, as a service to our customers, prior to having the tree trimmed, we will be happy to come out during normal business hours and temporarily disconnect the service wires until the trimming can be performed and then reconnect them once trimming is completed. There is no charge for this service, but we do require a few days notice. If the service is torn down during the trimming process and we have to make repairs, you will be billed for all work performed.
How Do I Go About Getting Electric Service Started?
In order to begin receiving electric service, it is required that you come in person to the Billing and Customer Service Office, 1 East Franklin Street, Hagerstown, MD to apply for service or to transfer existing service. At that time, you will be required to show proper identification. A new account connection will appear on your first bill. A security deposit will be required unless you can otherwise establish credit. A customer service representative can explain these requirements to you in more detail. You may contact the Billing and Customer Service Office at 301.790-4160
What should I do if the sewer backs-up into my house or business?
If an overflow occurs:
Call our Sewer Collection Division at 301-739-8577 Extension 661 during normal business hours. For after hours, weekends and holidays, call 301-790-3205.
When you call us first, you could save the unnecessary expense of a plumber.
Discontinue inside water use.
If your sewer cleanout near the street is accessible, our personnel will be able to determine if the blockage is in the customer’s line or in the city’s line. If the blockage is in the city’s line, our personnel will be able to break the blockage, ending the backup.
If there is not a cleanout, or if the cleanout cannot be located, you will need to call a plumber to assist you. If you call a plumber first and the blockage is caused by the city, you will be responsible for payment to the plumber. If you do not have a cleanout, you are responsible for clearing blockages from your home to the city main in the street.
You should familiarize yourself with you cleanout location. The cleanout is a vertical pipe located near the property line that rises from your sewer line to ground level and is capped.
Sometimes, the cleanout becomes buried or hidden over the years and is forgotten. In some cases, older homes may never have had a cleanout installed by the plumber.
As a property owner, you are responsible for your cleanout. If the cleanout is buried, a registered plumber should be able to locate and raise it for you. If it is hidden, you need to make it easy for our crew to access. The Water and Sewer Department Engineering division may be able to provide a location of the cleanout according to our records by calling 301-739-8577 Extension 651
What should I do if my Grinder Pump has an alarm?
If there is a grinder pump failure, the tank which contains the pump will become too full. An alarm light and/or bell located in your basement, kitchen or other area will automatically turn on. You should…
Check the breaker in the Grinder Pump Panel Control Box. If breaker is tripped – reset breaker. If the problem persists, please contact us at the numbers listed below.
Discontinue water use to prevent overflows and sewage backups into your home.
Wait fifteen (15) minutes before taking further action. A high level will sometimes cause the alarm to come on. This situation is often self-correcting and the tank will automatically be pumped down.
If fifteen (15) minutes have passed and the alarm light is still on or if you continue to get an alarm during the next few pump cycles please contact us at 301-739-8577 ext 650, during normal business hours 7am-4pm M-F or 301-790-3205 any other time.
Never attempt to open the tank cover.
Our technicians will repair the grinder pump, or advise you if there is an electrical alarm failure which is your responsibility to have repaired.
What Parts Of My Water Service Are My Responsibility?
Depending on your particular situation, your responsibility can vary. However, in general the following would apply:
City Jurisdiction stops at your water meter, the city reads and maintains the meter. In case of emergencies or for extended non-payment, the city will come out and turn on and off water service.
What Should I Do If I loose water pressure?
First, check all your faucets and plumbing within your home to make sure there is not a problem. You can call the city during regular work hours at 301-739-8577 EXT 690 7am-4pm. For after hours emergency calls, Call 301-223-7424.
