OUR CO-OP PRIDES itself on member service and reliability. But summer is here, and we can’t control the weather, so there's a risk of outages from thunderstorms.
I wanted to use this month’s space to refresh on how Blue Ridge responds to outages. This is also a helpful reminder as we are now in hurricane season, which began June 1 and goes through November.
The two easiest ways you can report an outage is through our app or by texting OUT to 800-240-3400. Consider bookmarking our outage center to view a live map at blueridge.coop/outage.
Please know that the moment an outage hits, our crews are already at work. Restoring power after a major storm is not always as simple as flipping a switch. Not all outages are the same, especially across a service territory as rural as ours. We follow a proven process used by co-ops across the country to get the most members back on as safely and quickly as possible.
We start with the high-voltage transmission lines. These carry power to the substations that serve thousands of members at once, so any damage here has to be repaired first. Until they are restored, nothing downstream can operate.
Next, our crews move to the distribution substations. A single substation can serve hundreds or even thousands of homes and businesses, so a repair at this level quickly brings a large group of members back online. Crews inspect each one to find out whether the trouble started with the transmission lines feeding it or within the substation itself.
From there, we check the main distribution lines. These carry power to entire communities and neighborhoods. If the problem was not solved at the substation, this is where our teams look next.
After that come the tap lines, sometimes called supply lines. They feed the transformers that serve individual businesses, schools, and homes. When outages are still scattered across an area, these are the lines crews inspect.
Finally, we look at the service line that runs between the transformer and your house. Sometimes your neighbors will have their lights on while you are still waiting, and a damaged service line is often the reason.
Safety around power lines is our top priority, and it should be yours, too. If you see a downed line, stay far away from it and anything it may be touching, and call us or 911 right away. Always treat a fallen wire as live.
If you know bad weather is in the forecast, charge your phones ahead of time and stock up on drinking water. A battery-operated fan and a flashlight within reach can go a long way, too. Keep your refrigerator and freezer doors shut to maintain temperatures longer.
A little preparation ahead of time can keep your family comfortable and safe until power returns. I hope this gives you a clearer picture of the work happening behind the scenes to get you back on as quickly as possible.
Thank you for trusting us to keep your lights on.
Cooperatively Yours,
Jim Lovinggood
CEO and President, Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative