Lovingston
Nelson County, VA
Release Via CVEC Tuesday afternoon 2.11.14
As the now named winter storm “Pax” approaches central Virginia, CVEC is prepared to respond to power outages caused by snow and winter winds. Below is an advisory issued by CVEC:
With the forecasted arrival of significant snowfall in Virginia, Central Virginia Electric Cooperative (CVEC) is preparing to respond to outages due to likely snow loading on trees growing outside of the 40-foot right surrounding the CVEC distribution lines.
Field crews and equipment are ready to go if necessary. Dispatchers and field supervisors are prepared to coordinate power restoration efforts. Member service representatives are available to answer member calls and enter outage tickets. Crews from sister electric cooperatives have been recruited and will travel to CVEC to provide assistance with outage restoration.
CVEC members may report outages by calling 800-367-2832 and using the automated reporting system. Cooperative members may also visit http://www.mycvec.com on a computer or a smart phone to report an outage online. Each reported loss of power will be entered into the CVEC Outage Management System, where it will be combined with other reported outages to allow dispatchers to identify fault locations and to send crews to where they will do the most good.
Outage updates will be available through the local media, on the CVEC Facebook page, via Twitter and http://www.mycvec.com. The Cooperative website also features an outage map with the number of members affected within each substation service area.
Co-op members are advised to take appropriate measures that include preparing for an outage and creating an outage kit. CVEC also requests that members turn off major appliances after a loss of power, in order to help with cold load pick up…the point when power is restored and there is a major burden on the distribution system.
For safety sake, anyone that encounters a down-power line, stay clear, even if there is no obvious sparking. Do not attempt to cut trees on power lines. The tree may be conducting electricity. In addition, once cut, the power line may launch the tree in any direction. Please leave restoration work for the trained linemen.
If the storm does result in significant power outages, CVEC crews will begin repairs along major lines closest to the local substation, then work their way out along the primary lines, clearing outages as they go in order to restore service to as many members as soon as possible and to permit power to flow to the end of the distribution lines. Other personnel will be creating damage assessments, while other crews may be dedicated to service restoration in local neighborhoods or in clusters of home.
