Spring is here, and like many of you, I’m looking forward to more opportunities to be outdoors and enjoy warmer weather. Springtime brings many of my favorite activities, like cooking out with family and friends and simply slowing down a bit to enjoy life.  

Unfortunately, spring and summer can also create the perfect conditions for severe storms. 

Harrison REMC crews are always prepared and standing by to respond should power outages occur in our area. When severe storms cause power disruptions, our line crews take all necessary precautions before working on downed lines. Here are some steps we take when deciding where to send crews during a widespread outage.

Substations, transmission lines, and emergencies

Harrison REMC has 15 substations with a metering point where electricity is sent out over the distribution lines. Any problems with the substations or the transmission lines getting power to that substation must be attended to first before other damages can be detected and repaired. During this time, we also respond to emergency accident situations.

Main distribution lines

Distribution lines carry electricity from substations to homes, farms, and businesses. Harrison REMC checks its main distribution lines if the problem doesn’t involve a transmission line or substation.

Supply lines

Harrison REMC’s main distribution lines branch off into final supply lines, often called tap lines. The crews work supply line outages to restore electricity to the most significant number of members at one time. 

Individual outages

Sometimes, a problem lies at an individual transformer or on a tap line that serves one meter. These are usually the last to be restored unless a crew is working on supply line outages in the same area. During a storm, trees are generally the culprits in these individual outages. 

While crews are responding to any outages, members need to be aware of some general safety concerns as well:

• If you plan to use a portable generator, make sure it’s rated to handle the amount of power you need, and always review the manufacturer’s instructions to operate it safely.  
• Severe storms can occasionally bring down power lines. If you see a downed line, always assume it’s energized and never approach it. If flooding occurs, never walk through areas where power lines could be submerged. 
• Planning for severe storms or other emergencies can reduce stress and anxiety caused by weather events and lessen the storm’s impact.

Our greatest concern during outages will always be keeping employees and members safe. We achieve that by excellent communication and keeping everyone well-informed during these events. Also, “like” Harrison REMC on Facebook for current outage updates, and check the website outage.harrisonremc.com for the live outage map.