Winter’s first storm was a chilling reminder …

RUSSELLVILLE – Area utilities officials said local electrical infrastructure help up well overall during the area’s first winter blast, but they reminded residents to stay prepared as more cold temperatures are possible throughout this month.

Russellville Electric Board General Manager Derrick Moore said the system’s performance during the late January ice and cold conditions reflected the importance of keeping rights of way clear before storms hit.

CONTRIBUTED/BRITTNE PRINCE
Asher and Piper Prince have fun playing in the icy weather.

“Our infrastructure actually held up strong,” Moore said. “Our rightof- way clearing helped us a lot. We pay close attention to our right of ways and try to keep everything as cleaned back as much as we can.”

Moore said such ongoing maintenance practices play a key role in reducing weather-related outages.

“That has really helped us during situations like ice storms, when limbs break and come down on the lines.”

The primary disruption recently did not originate within the local power system.

Moore said a Tennessee Valley Authority static wire came down in the Belgreen area and wrapped around energized lines, causing a feeder line supplying local substations to trip.

He said static wires are installed above energized lines and are designed to attract lightning and direct it safely to the ground.

When the static wire came down, it wrapped around the hot lines and caused them to go to ground, triggering the outage.

Moore said Russellville Electric crews worked with TVA to isolate the affected area, allowing service to be restored relatively quickly.

“We were able to assist TVA in opening a switch to isolate that area, which allowed us to come back home and not be out for a long period of time,” he said. “I think it was close to about an hour, maybe a little longer. TVA was quick to respond, and Franklin Electric as well,” Moore said.

CONTRIBUTED/KAMRI FLEMING
Kallie and Rayleigh Fleming enjoy a winter day with their dog, Woodrow.

“Franklin Electric actually found the TVA issue because it was close to their substation, so they were able to respond in a quick manner to get our customers back on.”

Moore said can play an important role in maintenance duties by letting utility officials know when trees or limbs appear to be encroaching on power lines.

“If customers have trees close to the power lines, they can notify us,” he said. “We’ll come out and check it out, and anything that’s close to our lines, we’re willing to clear it.”

Moore said winter weather also creates challenges for a region not accustomed to prolonged cold conditions.

“We’re not used to it,” he said. “We don’t really have a lot of cold weather, so people are just not used to it and trying to stay prepared.”

Moore said preparation and efficiency inside the home can make a difference, both in staying warm and managing winter power use.

“The best thing to do is to try to set your temperature around 67 to 68, whatever is most feasible for you, and then leave it set at that,” Moore said. “Try not to bump it up and bump it down, because that keeps your heat strip running all the time trying to catch up with itself.”

According to information published on the Tennessee Valley Authority website, lowering a thermostat by one or two degrees in winter can reduce energy use with each degree potentially saving about 3% on a monthly power bill.

Moore said people can also take advantage of natural heat sources.

“Whichever side the sun’s on, if the sun’s out shining, open your blinds up and let the sunlight in to help heat the house.”

Guidance published by TVA also states opening window coverings on sunny winter days can allow natural heat into a home, while closing them at night or on cloudy days helps retain warmth.

Simple circulation strategies can also improve heating efficiency, Moore said, because warm air naturally rises.

“You can turn your ceiling fans on reverse and that will help circulate the heat, because heat rises,” Moore said. “When you turn your ceiling fans on reverse, it helps push the heat around and circulate it through the house.

“People don’t think they need generators because they might only use it once every two or three years, so they’re not prepared for cold weather,” he said.

Russellville Electric Board crews recently assisted with power restoration efforts in Water Valley, Mississippi, as part of regional cooperation among electric providers. He said mutual assistance remains a core part of utility operations across the region.

“Mutual assistance is a big part of the electrical companies,” Moore said. “It’s critical to make sure we’re restoring power in a reliable and timely manner for everybody’s customers.”

Moore said this culture of cooperation benefits communities on both sides of the assistance.

“They’re always willing to help, no matter what it takes,” he said. “We realize that could be us and our families without power here, and we would be thankful for their help as well.”

CONTRIBUTED/MURRAY FAMILY
Hudson and Mercy Murray, who live in the Isbell community, Winter’s first storm was a chilling reminder … Always be prepared.

Moore stressed the importance of public awareness when it comes to electrical hazards during and after storms. He pointed out that some downed lines can remain energized even when power appears to be out.

“Just because a power line is on the ground does not mean it’s not hot,” he said. “Sometimes it can still be energized.”