Restoring electricity during a widespread outage is a carefully coordinated process that starts with prioritizing critical infrastructure (hospitals, emergency services, water treatment plants, etc.). SEC also works with agencies such as VDOT to clear downed lines across public roadways, as needed.
SEC then prioritizes repairs that will restore service to the greatest number of members. We follow a utility-accepted best practice of focusing on our transmission system first, then our substations, then our main feeder lines, and finally our smaller service lines and individual services. This process ensures we restore the greatest number of members in the shortest possible time.
While we prioritize restoring power to the greatest number of members as safely as possible, there are a few exceptions:
- Safety Concerns: If there are downed power lines or other hazards, crews must address these to protect the public and workers.
- Accessibility: Some smaller outages may be more accessible or require less complicated repairs, allowing crews to restore power in those areas while waiting for additional resources for larger repairs.
- Resource Allocation: Crews are deployed strategically based on the specific skills and equipment needed for each repair, which may result in smaller outages being restored first.