Reliability & Power Restoration

Red Flag Warning Protocol for TEC

It is critically important that all electric utilities minimize the possibility of wildfires caused by their systems. To that end and during a Red Flag Warning, Tanner will engage well-established protocols that turn off certain automatic functions and require increased visual inspection, thus increasing the response time for any power outage. Moreover, since visual inspection is only possible during daylight hours, nighttime outages will not be resolved until the following morning. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. Don't hesitate to get in touch with me if you have questions.

What is a Red Flag Warning?

Nick Himebauch

Operations Manager

email address: nick@tannerelectric.coop

(425) 888-0623

Additional Resources:

The National Weather Service is responsible for calling a Red Flag Warning/Weather Alerts, and TEC is required to follow them.

For Emergency Preparedness, visit Wildfire Safety|American Red Cross

During times of multiple outages, the Operations Department must decide which areas to restore power to first. We follow a set of standardized guidelines, known as the Power Restoration Priorities, the goal of which is to restore power to the largest number of members in the shortest time possible.

The Power Restoration Priorities are, in order:
Safety of our employees, members, and the public; then protection of property and assets; and finally, restoration of power to:

Transmission lines
Substations
Main feeders
Three-phase primary lines: medical facilities, emergency response facilities, food stores, schools, etc.
Single-phase primary lines: the main line supplying your home or business
Secondary lines: the line going from the road to your home or business

Power is restored according to a plan that enables us to affect the greatest number of people in the least amount of time. The restoration process follows a sequence, which is based on the design of an electric distribution system.

Transmission Line – Transmits 110,000 volts from the generating source to Tanner’s substations.
Substations – Transforms power from 110,000 volts to the distribution voltage of 7,200 volts, then sends power out through feeder lines.
Main Distribution Lines – These lines are also referred to as feeders.
Tap Lines – These lines come off the distribution lines and serve groups of homes or businesses.
Individual Services – Also referred to as service drops or secondaries. These are the insulated lines that serve individual residences. Often times they are the lines that go directly to the house from the pole.

Lineman Opening:

Red Flag Warnings & Protocol

The Power Restoration Priority

The Power Restoration Process