Over the summer, Seeley Swan residents have experienced multiple power outages. The main electric provider for the area, Missoula Electric Cooperative, is responsible for getting the power back on when it goes out.
The Pathfinder spoke with Kelsey Lodge, manager of communications at Missoula Electric Coop, about how MEC responds to power outages. In a coming edition, we'll provide an article that goes more in-depth on what resources are available in the Seeley-Swan area to residents when the power does go out.
This conversation has been edited for clarity.
Pathfinder: After an outage, when does MEC aim to have the power back on??
Kelsey Lodge: Our goal is to get power restored as quickly and safely as possible.
P: On average, how long does it take for power to be restored for a majority of the Seeley Swan area?
KL: There are many factors that determine the length of a power outage, including the cause, location of the outage and existing weather conditions.
P: What does the process of restoring power look like?
KL: Restoring power involves a coordinated effort across multiple departments and several critical steps.
These steps include prioritizing safety by making sure lines in waterways and roadways are turned off, either repairing or replacing damaged poles and cleaning up the areas around power lines after storms.
P: Is there anything MEC customers should keep in mind when the power goes out?
KL: When the power goes out, it is important to remember that MEC's field and office personnel are hard at work to restore power as quickly and safely as possible. Electrical cooperatives share the guiding principle of "Cooperation Among Cooperatives." In times of crisis, cooperatives share crews, equipment and resources across regions, speeding up power restoration.
This mutual aid, along with shared expertise and best practices, strengthens the resilience and service quality of all participating cooperatives, highlighting the collective power of community-driven utilities.
P: What are some resources people can check out for tips on what to do during a power outage?
KL: Ready.gov is a great resource for what people can do during a power outage.
Keeping your fridge and freezer closed, having a backup plan for medication and medical devices that depend on power and using a generator (outdoors and away from windows) are some of the suggestions that can be found at Ready.gov.
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