How We Restore Power

After a storm causes widespread power outages, Chelan PUD works to restore power quickly and safely to customers. Learn more about our power restoration process:

Step 1

Getting the power back on safely takes planning. During and after a storm, small crews will de-energize downed lines and handle emergencies; others will assess the damage as it can be done safely. Then, with a plan in hand, crews start work on restoring electric service.

Step 2

Transmission towers and lines supply power to one or more switchyards. These high-voltage lines seldom fail, but they can be damaged by severe wind. One line can serve tens of thousands of people. If one of these lines is damaged, it would get attention first.

Step 3

Chelan County PUD has 36 substations, each can serve up to several thousand homes and businesses. When there is a major outage, the distribution substations are checked to see if it’s a transmission problem getting power to the substation, or a problem at the substation.

Step 4

Main distribution lines carry power from substations into a central point in a neighborhood. When power is restored on distribution lines, whole neighborhoods and business districts may see the lights come back on as long as there are no problems further down the line.

Step 5

Power lines off main distribution lines carry electricity to utility poles or underground transformers serving one to several homes or businesses. PUD crews move to working on these lines after repairs to the main distribution lines are done and prioritize locations based on getting the largest number of customers back in service.

What's yours, what's ours?

Graphic explaining customer and utility owned electrical equipment

Did you know? During storms, both PUD equipment and customer-owned equipment can be damaged. Each plays an important role in delivering safe, reliable power to your home or business.

While some customers have underground service feeding their meter base, this graphic highlights an overhead, customer-owned service—where storm damage is more likely to occur.

If you notice damage to your weatherhead, meter base, or other customer-owned electrical equipment, please contact the PUD at 1-877-783-8123 so power can be safely disconnected. Please work with a licensed electrician hired by you, our customer, to make repairs on your equipment.

PUD crews are responsible for equipment on the PUD responsibility side of the system and are working as quickly and safely as possible to restore service.

*The weatherhead may be attached to a pole on your property. Regardless of where the weatherhead is located, this is where the customer ownership and responsibility begin.

¿Sabías que? Durante las tormentas, tanto el equipo del PUD como el equipo propiedad del cliente pueden sufrir daños. Cada uno desempeña un papel importante en la entrega de energía segura y confiable a tu hogar o negocio.

Aunque algunos clientes tienen servicio subterráneo que alimenta su base de medidor, este gráfico muestra un servicio aéreo propiedad del cliente, donde es más probable que ocurra daño por tormenta.

Si notas daños en tu cabezal meteorológico, base del medidor u otro equipo eléctrico de tu propiedad, por favor comunícate con el PUD al 1-877-783-8123 para que se pueda desconectar la energía de manera segura. Trabaja con un electricista autorizado contratado por ti, nuestro cliente, para hacer las reparaciones en tu equipo.

Las cuadrillas del PUD son responsables del equipo en el lado del sistema que corresponde al PUD y están trabajando lo más rápido y seguro posible para restablecer el servicio.

El cabezal meteorológico puede estar sujeto a un poste en tu propiedad. Sin importar dónde esté ubicado, ahí es donde comienza la propiedad y responsabilidad del cliente.

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