Getting La Plata Electric Association, Inc. (LPEA) member-owners back in power
If a major storm hit LPEA’s system, here's a simplified look at how we prioritize repairs and restore electric service.
As members of a cooperative, we have come to expect that if we lose electric service, it will be restored within a few hours at most. But when devastating events like windstorms, ice or snowstorms, or wildfires cause major damage to our electrical infrastructure, longer outages are unavoidable.
Crews work long, hard hours restoring service, but this task needs to be done methodically to be done safely.
Electric cooperatives follow a basic principle when it comes to restoring power:
- Priority goes to the lines that will get critical facilities, and the most members back in service. This usually begins at the substation with main feeder lines that can affect thousands of members.
- Work continues to tap lines, which may affect hundreds of members.
- Lastly, crews address individual service lines affecting even fewer members.
LPEA line crews may need to come out in the following days and weeks to make long-term repairs and rebuild sections of line that were severely damaged by the events. This might mean you will find blinking clocks when you get home from work, or be notified of planned short-term outages to allow for repairs.
It might also mean tree-trimming crews will be in the area to make sure each right-of-way is clear of encroaching vegetation. Wind, ice, and heavy snowstorms can topple trees into power lines, which account for many outages in wooded areas.
When you see the orange diamond-shaped “Utility Work Ahead” or similar work signs along the road, be sure to slow down and give the line crews plenty of room to work. They might be working on the electric line that powers your home.
To learn the extent of damage from a major event, check the Outage Viewer Map for current outage information.
If you ever have any questions about outages and repairs, or to report a power outage be sure to contact LPEA at (970) 247-5786.