812-738-4115
or 812-951-2323
Powering up: Electric service is restored methodically to maintain safety
When we lose electric service, we have come to expect it will be restored in a short time. But when a devastating storm causes major damage over a widespread area, longer outages cannot be helped.
It involves much more than flipping a switch at a substation or pulling a fallen tree off a downed power line. Your local line crews work around the clock resetting poles and rebuilding miles of line. Sometimes, it requires extra hands of highly trained workers from electric cooperatives in neighboring counties, other parts of Indiana, and even from neighboring states coordinated by specialists from Indiana Electric Cooperatives to come to the aid of your local crews who all work together.
In many cases, resetting or replacing fallen and broken poles also requires calling into 811 — the Indiana “Call before you dig” service — before crews can dig new holes. This is required to locate other buried utilities along the right-of-way and can add time to the restoration.
“Line crews work long, hard hours to rebuild poles and lines to restore service after major storms,” said David Lett, CEO of Harrison REMC, “but it’s an arduous task that needs to be done methodically to be done safely.”
Every electric cooperative follows a basic principle when it comes to restoring power: priority is given to the lines that get the most back in service the quickest. Here’s a basic order of repair:
Even after a major storm, report an outage to your electric cooperative. This will help line crews assess the extent of the damage and isolate and repair problems as soon as possible.
Let crews work
After a major storm with widespread damage and longer-than-usual power outages, it may be tempting to question your co-op’s lineworkers about the damage and check out what they are doing when you see them at work on the side of a road.
“For safety’s sake, the best thing for you to do when you see crews working is to let them do their jobs, without distractions,” said David Lett, CEO, at Harrison REMC. “Line personnel wear protective gear and are equipped and trained to be on site to restore power. It is dangerous for others to be milling around when we’re repairing lines.”
That advice also pertains to owners of property on which cooperative employees may be restoring power. And while you may be curious or even want to be helpful and friendly, safe linework requires full focus and attention.
“Safety is always first priority for us — your safety and our safety,” said Lett. “Power restoration is a serious and unforgiving process that is best handled without bystanders. That way, we can get the power back on as quickly — and safely — as possible.”
1165 Old Forest Road
Corydon, IN 47112
812-738-4115 and 812-951-2323
P.O. Box 517
Corydon, IN
812-734-3545