From Outage to On Bringing the Power Back
When the power suddenly goes out, we all want to know when the lights will return, right? Have you ever thought about how it all gets fixed? This article is here to give you a closer look at what our hardworking JOEMC lineworkers do to bring back the electricity. We’ll break down their essential steps, from figuring out what went wrong to finally getting everything up and running again. Join us as we explore the behind- the-scenes journey of our lineworkers and learn how they make sure our lights stay on.
When an Outage Occurs: A Lineworker’s Timeline
- Notification: Local lineworkers receive a call from our Operations Center with outage information to determine its scale (individual or line).
- Travel: Responding from work or home (if after hours), lineworkers drive to the reported location, which can take time.
- Identify: Lineworkers visually inspect the power lines to identify the cause, such as fallen trees, damaged equipment, or accidents, and verify if a protective device has tripped, such as fuses or breakers.
- Safety Procedures: Once the cause is identified, a job briefing is performed to discuss a plan of action and identify any hazards associated with the job. Other safety measures, such as work zones and grounding procedures, are implemented to protect against backfeeding.
- Repairs: Depending on the issue, lineworkers clear obstacles and replace damaged components to ensure the infrastructure is safe.
- Verification: Once repairs are made, lineworkers guarantee the scene is safe before energizing the repaired line or equipment.
- Re-energize: Lineworkers contact the Operations Center, obtain clearance, and close the protective device to restore power.
This process can vary in time, and lineworkers are dedicated to restoring power as quickly and safely as possible, understanding the impact of outages on the community. From the first call about an outage to the final moments of restoration, a linemen’s dedication ensures that our lights return, bringing comfort and normalcy to our homes.
