Bringing back the light
During the hurricanes and other major storms, high winds and other elements brought on by Mother Nature cause many power outages. Downed power lines and other hazards can pose a serious threat. In such cases, Santee Cooper may be instructed by civil defense and other emergency preparedness officials to intentionally disrupt power to protect human life and property. Only in such cases will Santee Cooper intentionally disrupt service.
Santee Cooper knows that power is much more than a convenience. It is a necessity. Santee Cooper line crews and other personnel will work vigorously to restore lost power. Priority will be given to evacuation centers, hospitals, shelters, nursing homes, and other important sites. Even though line crews may not be visible in your area, this does not mean that they are not working to restore your power. Crews restore power to the most customers in the shortest period of time. Electricity must travel from the generating station to your home. Should the problem occur anywhere on the system before power reaches your home, you may be without power.
Click here to see a more in-depth look at power restoration.
Who makes repairs?
In the wake of a hurricane or other storm, you may experience damage to the cable, meter base, etc. that supplies your electrical service. This diagram may help you determine who is responsible for repairs.
Overhead residential services
Santee Cooper's Responsibility:
Service Drop
Electric Meter
Customers Responsibility:
Weather Head
Electric Service Entrance & Conduit
Meter base*
Underground residential services
Santee Cooper's Responsibility:
Underground Service Cable**
Electric Meter
Customers Responsibility:
Electric Service Entrance & Conduit
Meter base*
*The meter base is provided by Santee Cooper, but installed by the customer
** In a few cases, the customer owns the underground service cable
Portable generator safety
Although most power outages are short-lived and do not warrant the use of auxiliary power, some homeowners use portable electric generators for this purpose. To ensure your safety, the safety of those around you, and Santee Cooper line technicians, portable electric generators should be operated according to strict guidelines.
- Always follow manufacturer's instructions completely.
- Never connect a portable generator to existing house wiring. It could back feed on power lines -- sending electricity out toward crews causing them serious or fatal injuries.
- Connect appliances directly to generator instead. Refer to owner's manual for specific instructions on load capacity, approved power cords, etc.
- Operate generators outside, as they emit harmful fumes and contain combustible fuel.
- Add fuel to the generator only when it is not running and has had time to sufficiently cool.
- Always properly ground generator before operating. Refer to owner's manual for specific instructions.
- When power is restored, turn on appliances one at a time as needed. Check food for possible spoilage.
- Should your neighbors' power be restored before yours, don't panic. You may be connected to a different transformer and will have power soon.
- Make a note to restock any supplies you may need should a future power outage occur.
If you are a business owner and are interested in leasing a standby generator from Santee Cooper, check out our Standby Generator Program.
