As July rolls in with longer days and rising temperatures, it also brings the increased potential for severe weather. Summer storms can arrive quickly and hit hard, sometimes causing significant damage to essential electric equipment throughout our co-op communities.
Ohio’s electric cooperatives are always prepared to respond swiftly to outages and restore power safely, but it is also important for homeowners to understand which parts of the electric system are their responsibility and which are maintained by the co-op. Understanding these key differences can help speed up repairs and ensure everyone stays safe when the weather turns rough.
Electric cooperatives are responsible for maintaining and repairing the equipment and lines that run to members' homes, including utility poles, distribution power lines, electric meters, and padmounted transformers.
Cooperative members are responsible for the equipment located between the electric meter and their home or business, including any underground service lines that lead into the structure and the service panel. Members are also responsible for the weatherhead and service mast located outside the home.
If any equipment that the homeowner is responsible for is damaged, please call a licensed electrician to conduct the repairs. A professional has the experience and know-how to assess and manage these types of repairs.
When severe weather damages electrical equipment, it's important to note that any necessary repairs to the homeowner’s equipment must be conducted before electric co-op crews can restore power to the member's home or business. By understanding the equipment members are responsible for, the repair and restoration process will be smoother and faster.
Ohio's co-op communities take great pride in the beautiful trees and landscape that contribute to the natural beauty where we live, however, regular trimming is essential to ensure reliable electric service and minimize damage from severe weather. Ohio’s electric cooperatives regularly trim trees throughout their service territories to improve service reliability. If you spot a tree limb that is obstructing a distribution power line outside your home, please call your co-op so they can trim those limbs and maintain those lines.
Any overgrown limbs or vegetation around the service line is the homeowner’s responsibility, and in these cases, please call a professional tree trimming service to assist.
By working together to understand the essential equipment that powers daily life, we can all be better prepared to start the repair and restoration process if severe weather impacts our community.
