OUTAGE SERVICE RESTORATION PRIORITIES

Our electric distribution system is constructed with protective devices such as fuses and circuit breakers. These confine the outage to specific areas, limiting the number of consumers affected by the power interruption. For example, if a tree falls on a tap line only that line would be without service. Other consumers serviced from the main distribution line would still have service, although their lights may blink momentarily.

1. Transmission lines — These are high-voltage lines that move bulk electricity from a generating plant to a substation or between substations.

2. Substations — Substations are electrical facilities that contain equipment for switching or regulating the voltage of electricity.

3. Main distribution lines — These are the 7,200-volt lines that you see along the roadways.

4. Tap lines — Tap lines are electric feeder lines with limited capacity that run from a main distribution line to a few consumers.

5. Individual service — This is a line that runs from the transformer to your meter.