Lineworkers brave bitter cold to restore power overnight
Celebrating quick response, safety, community support and resilience by General Manager Steve Stroshane
The power went out for about 200 co-op members northeast of Webster January 22. With windchills plummeting to -30 degrees, it was one of the coldest nights of the year. No one likes power outages, especially on a night like this! We know this was a hardship and safety concern for everyone.
Lineworkers responded immediately to the outage at 8:30 p.m. and found a broken power pole on County Road C near Ham Lake. Pictured above, the three-phase line, crossarms and pole had extensive damage that required complicated repairs.
Our crew worked in teams through the night in dark, bitter cold conditions, taking turns between work in the bucket and warming up in their trucks. They safely restored power to most members by 11:30 p.m., with the final 49 members on Sweger Road back online by 8:30 a.m. the following morning.
I'd like to thank our crew for their safe and swift action, and all of YOU for your kind words on Facebook, by phone and email. Your support is always appreciated and inspires our work!
Stay informed: Outage text alerts ensure member safety during storms
To help ease member concerns during outages, we provide outage text alerts whenever the power goes out. Members with a cell number on your account are automatically enrolled in outage texting. You'll receive notifications when the power goes out and when it is restored, along with the information on the cause and estimated restoration time whenever possible.
Prepare for March storms and power outages
Co-op crews work to strengthen the grid and minimize power outages year-round, but extreme weather like wind, ice and lightning can damage power lines. If your lights go out:
> Check circuit breakers and fuses, and look to see if your neighbors have power.
> Report outages 24/7 on SmartHub or 800-421-0283.
> View our live outage map on polkburnett.com and our Facebook page for updates about major outages.
> Stay away from fallen power lines and trees on lines. Always assume lines are live and dangerous! Report these hazards.
> Have a plan for extended outages.
Make sure your account information includes an up-to-date cell number to receive outage text alerts. You can update your account on SmartHub, polkburnett.com or give us a call, 800-421-0283, ext. 335. We're happy to help!
Our goal is to restore power safely and quickly, while keeping you informed.
