RESTORATION PROCESS. Step 1 Empire s storm restoration team assesses the damage to the system. This assessment allows Empire. = Location of damage

Transcription

1 RESTORATION PROCESS = Location of damage POLICE STATION Step 1 Empire s storm restoration team assesses the damage to the system. This assessment allows Empire to determine if it is necessary to bring in additional contract electric crews to help with restoration. It is an extremely costly endeavor for our customers to bring in hundreds of additional linemen, so Empire works hard to determine if it will be cost-effective and in the best interest of our ratepayers to incur this cost. If damage is localized, Empire can, in some instances, utilize nearby utilities for contract assistance. However if our entire region is affected, it can take two or more days for crews from outside areas to arrive. Multiple crews allow for different areas of town to be repaired at the same time, allowing for more customers to return to service faster.

2 Step 2 The energy generating plants are energized but the transmission lines are down and damaged leaving many customers without power. Repairs have to be made first to all facilities that produce power, the lines that carry it from the plants, and the substations. If repairs are not made to these essential lines first, no home or business will receive electricity it simply has no route to travel to get there. POLICE STATION Step 3 Now that the transmission lines are repaired, the crews can split up focusing their attention on the different lines coming from the substation. On this diagram, two lines come from the substation. For one crew, the focus can shift to restoring power to customers who provide essential services to the community. These include police stations, fire departments, hospitals, television stations, and radio stations. The second crew will follow the second line and begin repairs to restore power to the largest number of customers.

3 POLICE STATION Step 4 With power restored to essential services, the first crew can survey damage and prioritize the repair work. The crew then focuses on repairs that can restore the greatest number of customers. The second crew will continue to make repairs to residential areas.

4 Step 5 Crews then can travel down the road to repair another problem. By fixing this one problem, electricity is restored to two homes. However, one home on this block will continue to stay dark. Although this customer now has electric power to their pole, the service line that connects the pole to their meter has been damaged and electricity cannot come into their home. It may appear to make sense to immediately repair this individual customer s service line since the crews were so close, but it is not an efficient use of crew time. Instead crews can restore power to dozens of homes in the same amount of time it can take to repair a single home s service line. Once all of the lines have been repaired and the majority of customers have been returned to service, crews can focus on service lines that affect only one customer. Step 6 Crews then travel down the road to repair another line problem. By fixing this one line, electricity is restored to two homes. Repairs are made in a way that the greatest numbers of customers have their power restored.

5 Step 7 Now that distribution lines are repaired, crews begin restoring power to individual customers who have had service line damage. Step 8 One home has remained dark throughout the repairs by the crews. The customer who lives across the street from the power plant still is without power. Although they live across the street from the plant, and the plant s lights have been on the entire time, they have been in the dark. This customer has also noticed a lot of activity around their home and in their neighborhood by Empire but their lights are still off. Why? This customer has severe damage to their meter base. Damage to a home s weatherhead or meter base must be repaired by a private electrician. Plus, if the home is located in a city, it is very likely that the city s electrical inspector must approve the repairs before Empire can restore that customer s service. Once these repairs are made, a customer should call Empire to let the Company know they are ready to receive service. Only at this time will a crew be dispatched to safely reconnect a customer to electric service.

6 POLICE STATION Step 9 Empire appreciates the patience of our customers during outages, especially during major disasters as it can take extended periods of time to get everyone back on service. To ensure a safe and expedited restoration process, customers need to stay back from crews that are working. Although line crews appreciate words of encouragement and well wishes, their work areas can be extremely dangerous. Plus, every time work stops because of customer interaction, the entire restoration process is slowed. Empire also encourages customers to prepare for outages ahead of time. Have a plan of action ready in case an outage becomes extended. Make arrangements for those who are medically dependent upon electricity in case of an outage. Utilize Empire s Outage Center for information and tips to prepare for outages.