We see your requests for estimated restoration times. Unfortunately, it is not something Colquitt EMC can do for several reasons. As with other concerns faced during this outage, we will try to explain as best we can. For many rural electric cooperatives, providing an estimated restoration time (ERT) can be challenging. This breakdown explores the reasons behind this, highlighting the unique challenges that rural cooperatives, such as Colquitt EMC, face during major storm events.
1. Unpredictable Conditions in Rural Areas:
Rural electric cooperatives serve areas where the terrain is often difficult and diverse. Unlike urban settings, where power lines may be more accessible, rural lines can traverse thick woods, farmland, and swampy landscapes. During storms, crews often need to navigate challenging and sometimes hazardous conditions—downed trees, washed-out roads, or inaccessible right-of-ways—that make it hard to accurately predict how long it will take to reach and repair the damage. The situation can evolve rapidly, requiring crews to adapt on the fly, further complicating accurate time estimates. For example, when we show up to an outage, and there are three giant oak trees between us and the line and then two large pine trees on the line once we get there, it’s extremely difficult to estimate how long it will take to resolve these issues.
2. Nature of the Electrical System
Many rural electric systems consist of long stretches of power lines that serve relatively few members. A problem in one section can affect a significant portion of the line, and locating the precise point of failure can be time-consuming. This is especially true for outages involving multiple points of failure, such as what we are facing right now when there can be damage along numerous segments. The time required to restore power depends on the number of trouble spots and their severity, both of which are often unknown at the outset of the repair process.
3. Emphasis on Safety
Rural electric cooperatives prioritize the safety of their linemen, employees, and members above all else. Rushing to provide a premature estimated restoration time can put undue pressure on crews, potentially leading to unsafe working conditions or mistakes in the field. The cooperative model emphasizes the safety and well-being of everyone involved, which means taking the necessary time to ensure that repairs are completed properly and without unnecessary risk. It can be easy to forget how dangerous a lineman’s job is. In many cases, a mistake can mean life or death.
4. Complexities of Multiple Outages
During large-scale outages, such as this, damage is often widespread. Restoration is a multi-step process that involves first making the damaged areas safe, repairing substations, and then restoring power to the main feeder lines, before finally addressing individual outages. The interconnected nature of the electric system means that repairs in one area can affect the ability to provide accurate restoration times for others, leading to significant uncertainty in estimating when power will be back on.
5. Communication Focused on Real-Time Updates
Rather than provide ERTs that might be inaccurate or subject to frequent changes, many cooperatives prefer to focus on real-time updates. This means providing members with clear communication on the nature of the outage and the progress being made. This helps manage expectations and ensures that members have a realistic understanding of the evolving situation.
6. The Cooperative Difference: Member Relationships
Rural electric cooperatives are member-owned, which means that transparency and accountability are key values. Members aren’t just customers—they are owners of the cooperative. Co-ops often choose not to provide estimated times when they know that those estimates are likely to change or be unreliable. Instead, cooperatives prioritize honesty and accuracy in communication, even if that means not providing an immediate timeline for power restoration.
Rural electric cooperatives work diligently, often around the clock, to restore power as quickly and safely as possible. The dedication of linemen and crews—many of whom are local community members themselves—ensures that restoring power is not just a job but a commitment to their neighbors. While it might be frustrating not to have an estimated restoration time, the unpredictability of rural conditions and a focus on safety and reliability make this approach the most responsible one.