Ice Causing Weight Issues On Power Lines Biggest Issue With Winter Weather

Winter weather Sunday night brought numerous power outages to homes across the Upper Cumberland.

Cookeville Electric Department Director Carl Haney said that most of the outages are caused by thick heavy snow or ice freezing the lines.

“It adheres to the lines and such when it freezes there it causes a lot of weight issues,” Haney said. “Typically that’s our biggest problem. Tree limbs breaking, also some lines breaking when tree limbs fall and such. That’s our biggest issue.”

Haney said that crews prepare for this weather all year by cutting back branches and overhands from trees above powerlines. He said that when severe weather is in the forecast, crews will prep by making sure all equipment and vehicles are fueled up and ready to go.

Haney said that when it comes to severe winter weather, the biggest concern is making sure all customers have power to endure the cold.

“Especially when you have critical customers or critical areas that are out,” Haney said. “You know you get the hospitals and such that are out. So that’s our number one concern, and then focusing on our other customers that are out.”