Energy Services
Storm Safety/ Restoration
When a storm strikes, crews immediately begin the restoration process.
Outage Plan
Immediately after a severe storm hits the Corridor Energy Cooperative service area, crews begin to assess the extent of the damage, and the Cooperative puts its emergency power restoration plan into action. The plan is designed to restore power to the greatest number of members in the shortest amount of time. The severity of the outage and weather conditions always play a role in the time it takes to restore power.
What Causes Outages
WEATHER: Weather events are the leading cause of power outages. High winds, lightning strikes, snow, and ice can cause major damage to electrical equipment.
ACCIDENTS: Have you ever experienced a power outage on a sunny day? It could have been caused by a vehicle accident. Contractors digging into our power lines during excavation work can also cause power disruptions.
CRITTERS: They cause outages more than you probably think. Squirrels, birds, snakes, and other small animals can inadvertently contact power lines and other electrical equipment, causing short circuits and service disruptions. That’s why we do our best to safeguard equipment to keep them out.
MAINTENANCE: We periodically conduct maintenance and repairs to improve the reliability of our system. Occasionally, we may need to shut off power in the affected work areas. Scheduled outages are typically short and help ensure our crews’ safety while they work – and we’ll always let you know about these outages in advance.
Power Blinks
Have you ever noticed your lights blink during a thunderstorm? Or perhaps you’ve seen a blinking microwave clock when you arrive home. It’s caused by a power blink – a brief interruption that’s designed to prevent an extended power outage.
Power blinks occur when an obstruction like a squirrel contacts an energized power line or a tree branch touches a power line. A circuit breaker interrupts the flow of electricity briefly to minimize the possibility of damage to the utility system or your home.
Any of the events noted above can cause your power to blink, but you may also experience a brief interruption when protective devices that act like circuit breakers are working to detect the fault. Believe it or not, these quick power blinks caused by protective devices are good because the equipment is working as it should to prevent a prolonged outage.
If you are experiencing frequent power blinks, please call our office at 319-377-1587 to speak with our Operations Department.
Service Facilities – Who Owns What
If a storm damages any equipment owned by the co-op, we are responsible for repairs. If a storm damages any member-owned equipment, the member is responsible for repairs. Members should hire a licensed electrician when making any repairs to member-owned equipment.
- Meter loop (on meter pole): owned by the member
- Meter pole: maintained by Corridor Energy Cooperative
- Wires from meter pole to house or farm facilities: owned by the member
- Meter: owned by Corridor Energy Cooperative
- Fuse/breakers (below the meter): responsibility of the member
