PVEC Addresses Recent Power Outages

We understand how frustrating and disruptive the recent outages have been for some Powell Valley Electric Cooperative members. Reliable electric service is essential to your daily life, and any interruption — especially multiple in a short period of time — is understandably concerning. Members are right to ask questions about why these outages have occurred.

Last week’s outages happened while TVA was performing upgrades to transmission lines in the area — the main lines that bring power from generation sources into our community. This type of work is important to strengthen the system for the future. During that process, the substation was being served by a temporary power source, and that backup did not perform as expected — leading to the extended outages many experienced.

Today’s outage was caused by something much less predictable: a raccoon came into contact with equipment at the substation, which led to a temporary loss of power. While safeguards are in place to protect equipment, issues involving wildlife can’t be completely prevented.

These were two very different situations, but both are reminders that even a strong, well-maintained system can be affected by things we don’t always control — whether that’s conditions involving our power supplier or wildlife.

That said, reliability is at the heart of what we do. Powell Valley Electric Cooperative and TVA are taking these events seriously and will continue looking for ways to strengthen the system and reduce the chances of future outages. If you have questions about these outages or anything else related to your service, we encourage you to contact your local PVEC office. We appreciate your patience and the opportunity to serve you.