Backup Power for Fiber Optic Voice Telephone Services During Power Outages:
For many years, your landline telephone would allow you to stay connected to emergency voice services during a power outage. However, if your residential voice telephone service is provided using fiber optics or fixed wireless, rather than the traditional twisted pair copper-based line, the residential voice telephone service requires backup battery power to continue functioning during a power outage. To avoid a disruption of home voice service during a power outage – and to maintain the ability to connect to 911 emergency services – Illinois Electric Cooperative provides you with an optional battery for backup power for your residential fiber optic voice telephone service. Alternatively, you can purchase a UPS from a third-party retailer.
What Your Battery Can – and Can’t – Do for You:
The backup battery for fiber optic voice service allows you to continue to use your voice services during a power outage. Without a backup battery or alternate backup power source such as a generator, members with fiber or fixed wireless delivered services will not be able to make calls, including emergency calls to 911. The only way to maintain the ability to use your voice service is by using some form of backup power.
Inability to Use Cordless Phones and Other Devices During A Power Outage:
If you have a cordless phone, it will not work during a power outage as your cordless phone requires power from an external power source like an electric outlet in your home. To use your cordless phone, you would need to power the cordless phone with a backup generator or UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply). In order to use your voice service during power outages, we suggest that you keep a corded phone on hand. Corded phones, unlike cordless phones, do not need a separate power source to operate.
Illinois Electric Cooperative’s backup battery only provides backup power to Illinois Electric Cooperative’s voice services. Devices that rely on voice service, such as home security systems, medical monitoring devices, TTY devices, and other equipment may be disrupted if there is an electrical power outage unless those devices are powered by an alternate power source such as a generator or UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply). These type of alternate power sources are available from third party retail vendors.
Expected Backup Battery Power Duration:
Backup batteries are typically expected to last their noted duration in standby mode without commercial power but can be less due to different factors. Illinois Electric Cooperative’s battery backup is expected to last up to 24 hours on standby power.
Instructions for Proper Care and Use of Your Backup Battery:
Illinois Electric Cooperative’s backup batteries are rechargeable and have an estimated useful life span of 6-10 years. You are responsible for obtaining, monitoring, replacing and properly disposing of all batteries for the backup battery. Improper storage and environmental factors such as temperature can shorten the useful life of the battery, so it is recommended to store the battery above 32°F and below 104°F. Illinois Electric Cooperative recommends that you check the backup battery at least twice a year to ensure it is operating and ready for use should there be a power outage. If an indicator light changes color or possibly your device starts beeping, it could be time to replace. Please Notify Illinois Electric Cooperative at 1-800-468-4732.
Battery Backup Warranty: Please refer to information included with your battery backup power option for warranty details and requirements.
For more information on our batteries, please click here to view CyberShield battery information or here to view Precision Power battery information.
