Why is the power out?
Reasons for outages are not always obvious
SOMETIMES WE MIGHT BE LEFT IN THE DARK, literally and figuratively, when the power goes out. Often, the reason is obvious, as when there is a storm, but other times, an outage may come out of the blue.
The length of time it takes to restore power will vary by the cause. Here are some of the most common causes your co-op might be facing.
Weather The most frequent culprit in power outages is Mother Nature. A heavy build-up of ice and snow on power lines, poles and equipment can bring them down. Wind also causes widespread damage, as do lightning strikes that damage equipment, transmission towers, wires and poles. Even hot weather can cause issues.
Trees During high winds, snow and ice, tree limbs can snap or entire trees can topple onto power lines.
Accidents A vehicle hitting a utility pole can break the pole and knock lines from their overhead perch. Excavation work can disturb buried electric service lines, so always call 811 before any gardening or digging project.
Animals Squirrels, snakes and other small animals and birds can climb on poles and electrical equipment, which may cause a short circuit or equipment to shut down.
Vandalism People shooting at insulators and transformers can cause power outages in rural areas. Thieves also steal copper wire and other pieces of electrical equipment. Both acts of vandalism can be extremely costly and deadly.
Planned outages If an electric cooperative is performing maintenance or upgrading its equipment, it may need to temporarily turn off the power. The cooperative will usually try to notify consumers. This is why it’s always a good idea to make sure your cooperative has your updated contact information. If you experience an outage, alert your co-op.
Not a good time to talk
When there’s a power outage and you can see electric cooperative crews working nearby, it may be tempting to go out and ask about the outage and get repair estimates straight from the crew repairing the lines and restoring power to you or your neighbors.
But stopping your car or truck on roads, or even walking to talk to nearby electric cooperative crews is hazardous, especially when road conditions may already be treacherous with ice, snow or debris.
That advice also pertains to owners of property on which cooperative employees may be restoring power. It may be a natural tendency to approach the scene, but it can make it harder for crews to get their work done.
JUSTIN RICKMAN is Environmental, Safety & Health Coordinator at West Kentucky RECC.
