A MESSAGE FROM YOUR GENERAL MANAGER/CEO

GARY RAYBON

Untangling Electrical Equipment Responsibilities

As summer continues with longer days and rising temperatures, the potential for severe weather increases. Storms can arrive quickly and hit hard, sometimes causing significant damage to electrical equipment throughout our community.

Wharton County Electric Cooperative is always prepared to respond swiftly to outages and restore power safely. To get the power back on as quickly as possible, it’s also essential for our members to understand which parts of the electrical system are their responsibility and which are maintained by the co-op. Understanding these key differences can help speed up repairs and ensure everyone stays safe when the weather turns rough.

Your co-op is responsible for maintaining and repairing the equipment and lines that run to your home, including utility poles, distribution power lines, electric meters, and padmount transformers.

Our members are responsible for the equipment located downstream of the electric meter, including any underground service lines that lead into the structure and the service panel or breaker box. Members are also responsible for the weatherhead and service mast, equipment located outside a building that keeps things safe and dry as power enters your home or business.

In the unfortunate circumstance that any equipment owned by you, the homeowner, is damaged, contact a licensed electrician to conduct repairs. A professional has the experience and know-how to assess and manage these types of repairs safely and correctly.

When severe weather damages electrical equipment, completing any necessary repairs to your equipment is an important first step before our crews can restore power.

Another way WCEC ensures reliable electric service and minimizes damage from severe weather is by regular tree trimming. Our community takes great pride in the beautiful trees and landscaping that contribute to the natural beauty where we live, but with regular trimming throughout our service territory, we improve service reliability.

You can help us maintain reliable service by reporting any tree limbs that obstruct power lines outside your home.

If there are overgrown limbs or vegetation around the service line on your property, please call a professional tree trimming service to assist.

I know there’s never a good time to be without electricity. But by working together to understand the equipment that powers daily life, we can be better prepared to start the repair and restoration process when severe weather impacts our community.

If you have any questions about your electrical equipment, we’re here to help.