Causes of power outages

​What causes power outages

When the power is out, knowing what caused it can give you a better idea of when it can be fixed. The main cause of power outages is the weather. Other reasons could be human error, equipment failure, and scheduled maintenance.

Natural causes

Weather is the leading cause of power outages. High winds, lightning, freezing rain, ice on the lines, and snow are all culprits. Tree branches contacting power lines and wildlife can also be what causes power outages. Read what to do if you see a downed power line.

Equipment failures

We work hard to maintain our equipment, but things can still go wrong. Problems with cables, connectors, transformers, and switches can be what causes power outages. We'll work as quickly as safely possible to make the repairs and get the power back on.

Human error

Homeowners can accidentally cause a power outage while working with a ladder or antenna too close to power lines or hitting a buried line while digging. Traffic accidents can also affect the power supply if a piece of power equipment is hit and damaged.

Scheduled maintenance

Occasionally, we turn off power to do maintenance and repair equipment. We do this for the safety of our crews. We try to keep these interruptions as short as possible and schedule them during the least inconvenient times.