Keeping the lights on for co-op members is CCEC’s highest priority. Reliable power restoration requires careful planning, strong infrastructure, and a coordinated response before, during, and after severe weather events.
Fortunately, power outages are uncommon for CCEC members and are typically restored quickly. In fact, CCEC maintains a reliability rating greater than 99.99%, helping ensure electricity is available when you need it most. However, when major weather events such as hurricanes strike our area, extended outages can be unavoidable.
When the power goes out, how do CCEC crews determine where to begin? How do you know whether your outage has been reported? The answers start with a well-planned and efficient restoration process designed to safely restore service to the greatest number of members as quickly as possible.
We assess the situation first. No two outages are exactly alike. Before restoration work can begin, crews must evaluate the damage, identify safety hazards and determine what equipment or materials may be needed. Understanding the cause and scope of an outage allows us to develop a restoration plan that safely returns power while minimizing impacts to the rest of the system.
It’s a team effort. Restoring power involves every department across the co-op. Customer service representatives answer calls and assist members, engineers and field personnel assess damage, vegetation management crews remove hazards, dispatchers coordinate restoration efforts, and communicators provide updates and safety information. When outages occur, every employee plays a role in getting members’ power restored safely and efficiently.
Restoration is normally prioritized by the largest number of members we can get back on in the shortest amount of time. Crews first inspect transmission lines, then evaluate substations for problems. Next, they move to main distribution lines, followed by tap lines and, finally, individual service lines that connect homes and businesses.
You need a backup plan. If you rely on electricity to power life-support equipment or other critical medical devices, it is essential to have an emergency backup plan. Because outage durations can vary depending on the extent of damage, members should always be prepared for the possibility of extended interruptions.
Our employees face many dangers. In addition to working around high-voltage electricity, crews must remain alert for severe weather, falling trees, wildlife and traffic hazards. If you encounter lineworkers restoring power along the roadway, please slow down and move over whenever possible to help keep everyone safe.
Know where to get information. CCEC utilizes advanced technology to monitor the electric system. Substation monitoring equipment helps identify outage locations, while the cooperative’s automated metering infrastructure (AMI) system provides notifications when power is interrupted at individual meters. Before reporting an outage, check the outage map at outage.carteretcraven.coop and inspect your breakers. If power has been restored in your area but your home remains without service, call us at 252.247.3107. You can also sign up for outage notifications by texting “CCEMC” to 1.800.682.2217.
Flickering lights are a good thing. Brief power interruptions, often called “blinks,” can be a sign that protective equipment operated correctly. These devices help prevent longer outages that may be caused by animals, salt buildup or tree limbs coming into contact with power lines.
It can be a waiting game. CCEC’s system is interconnected with other utilities, and we work closely with our power provider and neighboring systems. If an outage originates from equipment outside of our system, restoration depends on repairs being completed by those providers before power can be restored to our members.
While we work hard to minimize power outages, they are sometimes unavoidable. When they occur, you can be confident that your co-op team is working as quickly as possible to restore power and get life back to normal.