The extreme winds on Friday, March 13 did extensive damage to our system and knocked out transmission to three of our substations.
Our crews were out working all day Friday as the winds continued and outage numbers were on the rise. By the time conditions improved, we had over 10,000 members out of power.
Due to the severity and widespread nature of the damage, we anticipate a multi-day restoration effort, and we are working to secure additional crews to help us recover safely and efficiently.
Please follow us on Facebook for updates as our restoration efforts progress. We are also publishing the updates at the bottom of this page, but Facebook will be the most timely source.
Check out this article from Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives to see how the storm impacted co-ops across Ohio.
Important Safety Reminders:
These reminders are specific to common reports from this storm. Please view our Storm and Outage Safety Page for more safety information.
Generators: Backfeed and Lineworker Safety
Prevent Backfeed – keep our crews safe!
Improper generator setup can be fatal for utility workers and tree crews trying to restore your service.
Backfeed occurs when electricity flows from your home back onto utility lines. This can energize “dead” lines and put workers at risk of electrocution.
Never plug a portable generator directly into a wall outlet. Use a professionally installed transfer switch or plug appliances directly into the outlets on the generator itself.
Partial Power
What is “Partial Power”?
Most homes run on a 120/240-volt system delivered via two “hot” wires and one neutral wire.
- If one “hot” wire is damaged (by a fallen limb or a tripped transformer fuse), you lose roughly half of your 120V circuits.
- Large appliances (HVAC, water heaters, ovens) require both wires to provide 240V. If one is out, these appliances will fail to start or, worse, try to “backfeed” power through other circuits, which can cause damage.
Immediate Safety Steps
- Report the Issue: Even if you have some power, it is important that you report the partial outage right away.
- Turn off large 240V appliances: Switch off your HVAC system, electric water heater, and clothes dryer at the breaker box. Operating these with only partial power can burn out their motors or compressors.
- Unplug sensitive electronics: Computers, TVs, and smart appliances can be damaged by the voltage fluctuations associated with a partial outage.
- Check your main breaker: Flip your main house breaker all the way to “OFF” and then back to “ON” once. If the issue persists, the problem needs further investigation.
Downed Powerlines
Steer clear!
Always assume that any downed wire is energized and dangerous.
- Stay at least 35 feet away (about the length of a school bus).
- Never try to move a line or remove debris from a line yourself – it takes significant training and special equipment to do so safely.
- If a wire falls on your vehicle while you are inside, stay put and call 911. If it is too dangerous to stay in the vehicle due to a fire or other hazard, secure any loose articles of clothing and jump clear, ensuring that you do not touch the car and the ground at the same time. Then, hop or shuffle away as far as you are able, making sure both feet are touching the ground at the same time.
Outage Tracking and Reporting
- Use our Outage Map to track outages and restoration progress.
- You can report outages or online through your Consolidated SmartHub account, or by calling our 24-hour outage hotline: 866-567-2753 (please call using the phone number linked to your account – our computer system will automatically register your outage). Learn more about outage reporting.
Outage Updates
Outage Update: 3/14, 6:50 a.m.
Crews loaded up and headed out around 6:30 this morning. We have two additional crews heading our way, and we are awaiting word on more to help us continue repairs and restoration. We will provide more updates as we progress today.
Important Reminder: If you see a downed powerline, stay away! Even if the line seems de-energized, they can become re-energized as we restore power. Never approach a downed powerline, and never try to clear debris from a line yourself.
Outage Update: 3/13, 10 p.m.
After a long day of challenging, hazardous work, our crews have to head in tonight for their safety. We will resume restoration work in the morning.
Thank you for your patience through this difficult situation. Please stay safe, look out for your neighbors, and keep our crews in your thoughts. We will update again when we have more information tomorrow morning.
Outage Update: 3/13, 8 p.m.
Electric and fiber crews are out working hard to assess damage, make repairs, and restore service.
The winds did extensive damage to our system today that will take time to fully repair and restore, and we currently have transmission outages at three of our substations.
We have requested assistance from additional crews, but outages will be extended for many of our members.
We do not have restoration estimates at this time, but we will update you here when we do.
Thank you for your patience and understanding. We are doing everything we can to get your service back on safely and efficiently.
