Windstorm Response: How URE Crews Restored Power and What Members Should Know
Last Friday’s windstorm had a significant impact across our service territory, causing widespread outages and challenging conditions for crews working to restore power. I want to take a moment to share an update on the event, how our team responded, and what members can expect during situations like this.
URE began experiencing outages caused by high winds around 12:30 p.m. on Friday, March 13. Over the course of the weekend, we responded to about 120 separate outages. These outages affected anywhere from one consumer to nearly 2,000 at a time. In total, more than 8,000 consumers lost power, which is about two-thirds of URE’s entire system.
The longest outage during this event lasted nearly 22 hours. URE crews were able to restore power for most consumers within eight hours.
During the storm, we also received dozens of emergency calls from 911 reporting downed power lines. In some cases, it took several hours to respond due to the number of incidents happening at once. It is extremely important to stay away from any downed power lines. If you see one, call 911 first, then call URE to report it. The more details you can share about the location and situation, the better.
During large-scale events like this, you may have to wait on hold to speak with someone. While this may be frustrating, it is important to stay on the line so we can document the issue and respond as quickly as possible. Calling in may not always mean your power will be restored sooner, since the cause may be farther up the line, but it does allow us to ensure the situation is made safe.
URE also offers outage notifications as a convenient way to stay informed during an outage. Members can choose to receive alerts by text, email or both, including notifications when an outage is reported in your area, updates on restoration (when available), and confirmation when power has been restored. Notifications can be managed through your SmartHub account and are a helpful way to stay updated without needing to call in.
Like all electric utilities, URE restores power by first addressing outages that affect the largest number of consumers. Crews then move on to outages that affect fewer homes or businesses. This approach allows us to restore service to as many people as possible in the shortest amount of time.
All available URE line workers, along with crews from our contractor, worked throughout the event to clear debris and restore power. Getting crews to the right locations requires coordination between field crews, engineering staff in the office, and our after-hours call service. I’m grateful for our partners at the Cooperative Response Center, who handle our after-hours calls and quickly relay accurate information to our team.
On Saturday, once power had been restored to all URE members, we were able to send one crew to another electric cooperative in eastern Ohio to help restore their outages which still numbered in the thousands.
Overall, URE fared relatively well during this storm. Many other central Ohio utilities are still dealing with outages as of Monday afternoon.
Events like this are a reminder of how important it is to be prepared for extended power outages, especially in rural areas where restoration can take longer. Electricity has become a necessity for many of us, and when it’s gone, daily life can quickly become difficult. Taking a few simple steps ahead of time can make a big difference. We encourage you to review our outage preparedness tips and resources.
At the end of the day, storms like this show what it really means to be a cooperative. Our crews, office staff, call center partners, and contractors all worked together to restore service as safely and quickly as possible. Just as important, our members showed patience, understanding, and concern for one another during a difficult weekend.
We appreciate the trust you place in URE and the cooperation we receive from our members during events like this. When we work together, share information, and look out for our neighbors, we’re better prepared to get through events like this together.