FAQs About Power Outages

 

 

When your power goes out, you should have a reliable way to get the answers you need. At KREMC, we work as hard as we can to prevent power outages, but storms will come, and electrical issues cannot be entirely avoided. Because of this, we want to help you prepare for outages by answering your questions before you need to ask them.

In this blog, we’ll answer some of the questions you ask us most often. You can also read about how to prepare for a power outage here: Power Outage Preparation.

 

 

Why is my power out?

There are a variety of reasons that power goes out. If harsh weather isn’t affecting area power lines, a few other factors could be causing your outage…

     -         Unpaid bills: If a member forgets to pay an electric bill, the home's power will not continue to run after a certain date. That’s why we encourage members to set up autopay, so you never have to worry about unexpected outages. Also, check out our online arrangements for help paying your bill.

     -         Damaged transmission lines: Sometimes, transmission towers or cables that supply power to substations can get damaged. Our line crews work as quickly as they can to repair any damages, but outages may result until the repairs are made.

     -         Distribution substation: Each substation serves hundreds or thousands of our members. During a major outage, line crews inspect substations to determine if problems stem from lines feeding into the substation itself or if problems exist down the line.

     -         Main distribution lines: If the problem cannot be isolated at a distribution substation, distribution lines are checked. These lines carry power to large groups of consumers in communities or housing developments.

     -         Tap lines: If local outages persist, supply lines are inspected. These lines deliver power to transformers, either mounted on poles or placed on pads for underground service, outside businesses, schools, and homes.

     -         Individual homes: If your home still doesn’t have power, the service line between a transformer and your home may need repairs. Always report an outage to help line crews isolate local issues: KREMC’s Outage Center.

 

  

 

When will my power come back on?

As detailed above, the process of running power from substations through transmission lines to your home is complex, and an unknown outage could be caused by a problem occurring within any of these steps. Unfortunately, KREMC usually doesn’t have an ETA for your power to be restored, but you can always know that we’re working long, hard hours to restore your power as safely and quickly as possible.

One of the reasons our member service representatives don’t have an ETA for your home’s power restoration is that our lineworkers prioritize taking care of the outage over updating the office on their progress. We don’t want to slow down the process with constant updates, and we would rather get your power on as soon as possible!

If an outage is widespread, local community organizations often team up to help with the power restoration and storm cleanup for our members. These teams of hardworking individuals have been known to work all through the night to ensure our members can have their power back on quickly.

 

 

What should I do when there’s a power outage?

Electrical outages don’t happen often, but when they do, you should know how to report them to KREMC. There are also a few actions you can take to see if your home’s power is out because of an internal issue.

     -         Check your fuses: If your service is interrupted, the first thing to do is check your fuses or breakers to make sure the problem is not in your home.

     -         Report your outage: Call KREMC at 574-267-6331 or 1-800-790-7362 and press 1. You can also report your outage on our mobile app or check restoration progress on an area map when you use our Outage Center. Make sure to stay updated on outages by visiting our social media pages: @KosciuskoREMC. However, social media messages are not monitored outside our business hours and are not an effective way to report outages.

     -         Be patient: Service will be restored as soon as possible, and we appreciate your patience as we work. Line outages will be repaired first, followed by individual locations. If you don’t see someone working directly on the power lines outside your house, there is likely work being done at a substation near you.

     -         Give line crews space: Lineworkers need both time and space to repair the lines and get your lights back on, so don’t try to approach them to ask about the outage.

     -         Stay away from downed lines: Even if fallen lines don't look dangerous, they are. If you encounter downed power lines, immediately report them to KREMC at 574-267-6331 and move away from the scene.

     -         Take care of your home’s equipment: If your power outage is caused by a branch falling and breaking an entrance apparatus, you are responsible for hiring an electrician to replace the broken equipment before the line can be reconnected by KREMC linemen.

     -         Know when it’s time to relocate: If you or someone in your home relies on medical equipment that needs power to work, we may ask you to stay somewhere else overnight just in case power restoration is prolonged. Call 574-267-6331 to talk to a member service representative in this case.

 

How do I prepare for a power outage?

At KREMC, we want you to be fully prepared for power outages, whether they last one hour or multiple days. While prolonged outages are rare, we have the resources to keep you equipped for them.

Read our Outage Preparation blog to put together an outage kit and learn more about what to do when your power goes out.