Backup Power for Home Phone Service

Posted on Friday, January 25, 2019

During a power outage, a backup power supply is required for you to make or receive calls with your CFU phone service. Cedar Falls Utilities has two available options for battery backup. Eight hours is available for $3 per month or choose 24 hours for $5 per month.

Without a battery backup, you will not be able to make any calls, including emergency calls to 911, while the power is out. If you choose to add a battery backup, only the optical network terminal (ONT) will be powered by the battery. Home security systems, wireless routers and other equipment will not run on an ONT backup battery.

To make a call during a power outage utilizing the battery backup, you must have a phone handset that plugs into a phone jack only and does not have a separate power cord. If you use a cordless phone, it will not function without separate backup power. Most cordless phones are not equipped with backup power.

The exact battery backup duration will depend upon battery age, usage and environment. Please follow the instructions included with your battery for proper use, storage and care.

If you’d like to test your battery backup, please call the CFU Help Desk at 319-268-5221. They can remotely verify the status of your battery.

To request a battery backup, please call 319-268-5283. For more information about home and business phone service from CFU, visit cfu.net/phone.