How power outages are restored
Have you ever wondered what steps are taken to restore power after an outage?
- Wright-Hennepin's first priority is public safety. Crews are sent to remove damaged power lines from roadways first.
- After that, substation power is restored. Sometimes, service to hundreds or several thousand customers can be restored immediately by replacing a fuse on a substation transformer.
- Next, the major distribution feeders are repaired. These are the lines that come out of a substation that have three wires resting on a cross arm. If energy cannot be distributed over these lines, your home cannot receive power.
- Tap lines are repaired next. Tap lines carry power to groups of homes from the distribution feeders. You may see your neighbors' lights come on while your lights remain out. If a tap line is repaired, but there is still damage to your individual line, you may have to wait a while longer for restoration.
- Finally, individual service lines are repaired. Please note that Wright-Hennepin is responsible for getting the electricity to your meter. However, the mast on the house (the pipe in which the wires run down to the meter panel) is your responsibility. For example, if a tree damages the mast, an electrician will need to make repairs at your home.
