Oklahoma Power Crews Stay Prepared For Possibilities

COLLINSVILLE, Oklahoma -

With the possibility of ice in the forecast, area electric companies have plenty of people on standby in case there are power outages over the weekend.

They hope having plenty of resources to react to a storm and the proactive steps they take ahead of time will make a big difference.

At Verdigris Valley Electric Cooperative in Collinsville, there are plenty of supplies and equipment on hand in case they are needed.

Transformers, electric poles, miles of electric lines, you name it. Plenty of manpower also will be available.

"We normally keep a couple of crews on call all the time, but when impending weather comes in, we make sure we keep them all on call," VVEC Operations Manager Randy Riddle said.

Electric lines are designed to typically handle a half-inch of ice buildup.

But Verdigris Valley Operations Manager Randy Riddle says wind and tree limbs close to lines are also big factors when it comes to power outages.

"If the wind is blowing right, it will bend down over and if it falls across a line, snap a line, then you have problems," Riddle said.

Electric Co-ops and power companies are more aggressive in tree and branch removal since the 2007 ice storm, when hundreds of thousands of customers lost power statewide.

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Oklahoma Power Crews Stay Prepared For Possibilities