1/15/2024 9:00 pm
Questions from customers:
Is it possible for places that haven’t lost power yet to still lose power?
Yes. As weather warms and ice melts, broken tree branches could fall and create more outages
We saw two SUB trucks in our area and they just kept going. Why didn’t they stop to help?
We have crews that assess damaged areas and report in so we can schedule and dispatch appropriate repair equipment.
Why do some areas seem to take longer to repair?
To ensure everyone’s safety, areas of town with overhead services must be visually cleared of hazards before we can energize them. This isn’t the case with underground lines making outages in those areas easier to address.
Why can’t you tell me if my neighborhood is going to be repaired next? It would help me plan. Just a rough idea is fine!
We are still in the active stage of the ice event, which means new outages are still occurring. With so many variables it is difficult to predict with certainty where crews will head after finishing a repair job. Until the situation stabilizes, we encourage all customers to plan to be without power for the next several days.
How long should I expect to be out of power?
Because this is still an active event, it is impossible to say, but we ask that customers be prepared to be without power through the weekend. That said, some may have power restored and have no further issues. Others may be out for days, or even longer depending on whether home repairs are required prior to re-energizing lines.
Where is your outage map?
Power outage maps are usually generated from data provided by Smart Meters, which SUB does not use. We estimate outage numbers and locations based on our system’s status, and use that to share neighborhood areas that are impacted.
Why is power still going out in new areas?
Stressed trees falling into powerlines is the primary cause. This means that customers whose power was previously restored can lose power again.
Are trees the only issue?
Restoration efforts are impacted by poor road conditions, which include downed trees and vegetation, icy roads, and poor access and the continuing hazard of falling branches.
Power poles have been toppled in some cases, and they take longer to replace than wire and often in areas that are less accessible.
Bringing up power is requiring the repair of multiple issues on a single circuit.
What should I do now?
Use time with power to make preparations, or to find alternate accommodations if necessary and if safe to do so.
How can I help?
If you have reported your outage, please try to leave the outage line clear for new outage reporting or changes to outages already reported, such as downed lines, poles or other hazards.
What can I expect going forward?
As the weather warms, ice will melt and shift the weight on tree limbs, likely creating another round of outages as more branches break.