Power outages due to weather conditions can be frustrating and inconvenient. Whether it's a winter storm, a hurricane, or a thunderstorm, power outages can leave you in the dark and without essential services. While it's easy to get frustrated with the powerline technicians who are standing around seemingly not doing anything, there are regulations, steps, and safety procedures that need to be followed to ensure that the power is restored safely and efficiently. In this blog post, we'll take a closer look at why it takes so long to get your power back on after a weather-related outage.

 

Regulations

Power companies are required to follow strict regulations set through various regulatory bodies to ensure the safety of everyone involved. These regulations dictate how power companies respond to outages, what safety procedures they must follow, and how long they have to restore power. Failure to comply to regulations will result in catastrophic failure and potentially death.

Steps

Power companies must follow a series of steps to restore power, and these steps can be time-consuming. The first step is to identify the cause of the outage. This can involve inspecting power lines, transformers, and other equipment to determine what caused the outage. Once the cause of the outage has been identified, power companies must make any necessary repairs or replacements. This can involve repairing damaged power lines, replacing transformers, or even repairing damage to substations. Finally, power companies must test the system to ensure that it's working properly before restoring power.

Safety Procedures

Powerline technicians must follow strict safety procedures to ensure that they and the general public are safe during the restoration process. These safety procedures can include de-energizing power lines, working in teams, and using specialized equipment to safely repair damaged lines or equipment. While these safety procedures are necessary to prevent accidents and injuries, they can also add time to the restoration process.

Severity of Weather Conditions

If the weather is particularly severe, it may be more difficult for powerline technicians to access the affected areas and make the necessary repairs. For example, if there is heavy snow or ice on the ground, it can be dangerous for powerline technicians to climb poles or work on power lines. Similarly, if there are high winds or flooding, it can be difficult to access certain areas or transport equipment to the affected areas.

Number of Outages

During a weather-related outage, there can be multiple outages in the same area, which can make it difficult to restore power to everyone quickly. Power companies must prioritize outages based on factors such as the number of customers affected, the severity of the outage, and the availability of resources. This means that some customers may have to wait longer than others to get their power back on.

 

Power outages due to weather conditions can be frustrating and inconvenient, but it's important to remember that there are regulations, steps, and safety procedures that need to be followed to ensure that the power is restored safely and efficiently.

At AERIAL WORK UTILITIES, we understand the importance of getting the power back on as quickly as possible. As a leading provider of solutions for all your electrical overhead and underground installations, we have the expertise and experience to ensure that electricity is delivered to where you need it when you need it.

Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you during an unexpected power outage.

To learn more about the services we offer, please click here. If you have questions, we'd be happy to hear from you. Please feel free to call us at (289) 685-3489 or email Jfitz@awutilities.ca.