Posted 6/13/01
Mondayís storm causes major problems
Mondayís severe storm caused major damage to the distribution system serving customers of East Central Energy. About 1,500 ECE customers remained without power Tuesday morning as crews from neighboring cooperatives were replacing ECE crews who had been working throughout the night. The cooperative reported outages in Benton, Mille Lacs, Isanti and Chisago Counties.
ECE customers should report an outage by calling 1-800-254-7944.
During the peak of the storm, an estimated 8,500 ECE customers were without power. Much of the damage was due to high winds blowing trees over in saturated soils. ECE crews report that many trees are simply pushed over onto the lines exposing the treeís root ball. The high water in ditches and streams is also hampering restoration efforts.
With saturated soils and storms forecast for the next few days, trees will continue to be vulnerable to high winds. ECE asks customers to be prepared in the event that power is interrupted again.
Summer Storm Preparation
East Central Energy does everything it can to avoid interruptions in your electric service. But sometimes lightning and wind combine to make power outages unavoidable. To minimize inconvenience, discomfort and danger, you should consider preparing now for the possibility of severe weather ahead.
ï Create an emergency kit with a battery-powered radio, a flashlight and candles, extra batteries, matches, a first-aid kit, a fire extinguisher, bottled water and non-perishable food.
Power outage
ï If your power does go out, check your own fuses and circuit breakers first. Call your neighbors to see if they have also lost power. Then contact your power utility to report the outage.
ï Remember that in an outage a cordless phone wonít work. Make sure you have at least one regular telephone with a cord to use if the power goes out.
ï Keep refrigerator and freezer doors shut. A closed fridge will keep food chilled for 12 hours.
ï After the storm, replace used batteries in your emergency kit and restock food and water to be prepared for the next storm.
Donít generate danger.
ï When the power goes out, a portable generator can make life a lot easier. But if itís used improperly that generator can make life a lot more dangerous! Keep these tips in mind when youíre using a portable generator:
ï Plug individual appliances into the generator using heavy duty, outdoor rated cords with a wire gauge adequate for the appliance load.
ï Observe the generator manufacturerís instructions for safe operation.
ï Do not plug the generator into a wall outlet.
ï If connecting the generator into the house wiring is necessary, have a qualified electrician hook up the standby electrical system, or have your cooperative install a linking device if available.
ï Never use a generator indoors or in attached garages.
ï Only operate the generator outdoors in a well-ventilated, dry area, away from air intakes to the home, and protected from direct exposure to rain and snow, preferably under a canopy, open shed, or carport.
ï If the generator is connected directly to the house wiring, disconnect your house from the grid by turning off the main breaker or removing the main fuse. This will protect your cooperativeís workers from being shocked by power from your generator while doing repairs to the line.
Source: Consumer Product Safety Commission (www.cpsc. gov