Summer is here, school is out and families are gearing up for a few months of fun and relaxation. While summer brings much fun in the sun, it also brings the occasional severe storm. In the event of a power outage, you can trust that Palmetto Electric is ready to respond. 

The major cause of most power outages in areas served by overhead lines comes from damage caused by falling trees and branches. We work year-round – through right-of-way clearing – to ensure power lines in our service territory stand little risk of being damaged by trees, branches or other types of vegetation. In areas served by underground lines, outages can still occur from disturbances such as flooded transformers.

Despite our best efforts, damage can also occur to substations and transmission lines. When this happens, our first priority is to safely restore power to as many members as possible in the shortest amount of time. We start by mobilizing our line crews and other critical staff. During outages, the big problems are handled first – like damage to transmission lines, which serve tens of thousands of people. These problems must be corrected before we can focus on other areas where more localized damage may have occurred.

Palmetto Electric’s line crews inspect substations to determine if the problem starts there. If the root of the problem is at the substation, power can be restored to thousands of members. Next, line crews check the service lines that deliver power into neighborhoods and communities. Line crews repair the damaged lines, restoring power to hundreds of people. If you continue to experience an outage, there may be damage to a tap line outside of your home or business. Make sure you notify Palmetto Electric of your outage so crews can inspect these lines.

Outages can be reported by calling PowerTouch at 1-866-445-5551 or through MyEnergy Online and the MyEnergy mobile app. We always do our best to avoid power outages, but sometimes Mother Nature has other plans. Be sure to check palmetto.coop, and social media for the latest updates during a power outage.