Know why outages occur
Electrical outages can be caused by a variety of factors, not the least of
which is severe weather. Take time to review some general information about
the most common causes of power outages in our area.
Vegetation/Trees
Tree branches on powerlines or trees
falling on powerlines can cause power outages.
Wind
Severe wind can cause powerlines to come in
contact with tree limbs, which can cause dimming lights or an interruption
of service. Wind can break or damage tree branches, poles, and power lines.
Lightning
Lightning generally searches for the tallest
objects to serve as a conductor. These include utility poles, wires,
transformers, trees, and other electrical equipment. When lightning strikes
electrical equipment, a power loss can occur.
Rain/Flooding
Heavy rain and melting snow can cause
flooding in some areas. Floods can cause damage to aboveground and
underground electrical equipment.
Ice/Snow
Snow and ice can buildup, which may cause
powerlines to break and tree limbs to fall into power lines or even result
in broken poles.
Motor Vehicle Accidents
Vehicles coming into contact
with utility poles or other electrical equipment are common causes of power
outages. They may cause downed power lines or utility poles to break.
Wildlife/Animal Contact
Short circuits, which interrupt
the flow of power, can be caused from small animals—such as squirrels and
birds—climbing on poles, transformers, and fuses.
Contractors
Excavation digging by contractors can
damage underground electrical equipment.
Planned Outages
To maintain our equipment and keep up
with the growing communities, we may schedule planned outages in some areas.