Stay Connected When The Lights Go Out
Power has been restored to nearly 4,000 members since the peak of the storm, but it will still be a long night for linemen as they continue work to restore power to all.![]()
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It’s hard to predict restoration times for widespread scattered power outages after a storm like this one. Crews must make their way to each outage and locate the problem. Sometimes the cause is obvious, but sometimes they must walk the line through woods and fields in order to locate the trouble. After a storm like this, that cause is often a lightning strike or fallen tree. ![]()
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Once they are sure the lines are de-energized and safe to work on, crews use chainsaws to cut away the tree. Then they must sort through equipment and replace anything that is broken. Sometimes this means removing and resetting a power pole, which is a lengthy, labor-intensive process. ![]()
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Once all the equipment is repaired or replaced and lines re-strung, crews reenergize the lines and power is restored – sometimes to many people and sometimes to just a few. Then they get in their trucks and travel to the next location, over and over for hours, all while observing strict safety protocols while doing this dangerous work. ![]()
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Because each situation is different, it is nearly impossible to predict power restoration times for each individual outage. We appreciate the understanding and patience our members extend to us as our crews work as quickly and safely as they can until power is restored to all.
Our Safe Systematic Approach to Restoring Your Power
Laurens Electric uses a sophisticated mapping system to locate weak spots in its system hits. By monitoring the weather forecast, we can identify areas most likely to be affected by severe weather conditions. This data allows us to calculate the demand on our lines, and when necessary, reserve additional crews from other regional cooperatives in preparation to repair widespread damage.
How we prevent and restore power outages
