SLEMCO is ready for the freezing temperatures and winter precipitation forecasted for next week - and the downed power lines and fallen trees that usually follow, according to a spokesperson for the electric company.
A ½ inch of ice can add up to 500 pounds of extra weight to a single span of wire between two poles. Tree limbs coated with ice are exponentially heavier and often split or break because of the extra weight.
“To get ready for possible outages, we’ve prepared in much the same way as we would for a hurricane,” said SLEMCO Communications Coordinator Mary Laurent. “Materials and Supplies are on hand and well-stocked. All crews are on-call. It’s all hands on deck.”
Additionally, electric contractor crews are lined up to assist the company with power restoration. Field vehicles have been inventoried and are loaded with extra stores of commonly needed supplies used to work outages.
Outages can be reported by calling 1-888-275-3626 or customers can login to their SmartHub accounts.
Stand-by generators should be used according to manufacturer instructions. Locate them outside, away from living areas and do not use them to power an entire home unless professionally installed switches are present. This can cause backfeeding of electricity that can seriously injure or kill lineworkers who are in the area restoring power.
------------------------------------------------------------
Stay in touch with us anytime, anywhere.
To reach the newsroom or report a typo/correction, click HERE.
Sign up for newsletters emailed to your inbox. Select from these options: Breaking News, Evening News Headlines, Latest COVID-19 Headlines, Morning News Headlines, Special Offers
