A MESSAGE FROM YOUR GENERAL MANAGER/CEO

GARY RAYBON

We’re Prepared for Any Storm

Summer is here, school is out and families are gearing up for a few months of fun and relaxation. Summer brings fun in the sun, but it also brings the beginning of Hurricane Season and the possibility of severe storms. In the event of a power outage, you can trust that Wharton County Electric Cooperative is ready to respond.

The major cause of most power outages is damage to power lines caused by falling trees and branches. Through right-of-way clearing, we work year-round to ensure that power lines in our service territory stand little risk of being damaged by trees, branches, or other vegetation.

Despite our best efforts, though, during major storms, damage can occur to transmission stations, substations, and power 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. Every phone line available is used to take your outage report calls. The big problems are handled first—such as damage to transmission lines, which serve thousands of people—before we can focus on other areas where more localized damage might have occurred.

WCEC’s line crews inspect substations to determine if the problem starts there or if there could be an issue down the line. If the root of the problem is at the substation, power can be restored to hundreds, possibly thousands of members.

Next line crews check the service lines that deliver power into individual neighborhoods and communities. Crews will then repair the damaged lines, restoring power to dozens of people. If you continue to experience an outage, there might be damage to a tap line outside your home or business. Make sure you notify WCEC so crews can inspect these lines.

We will do our best to avoid power outages, but sometimes Mother Nature has other plans. During a power outage, be sure to check our website at MyWCEC.coop and our Facebook page on your smartphone for the latest updates.