What Causes Your Power Outages?

Countless West Florida Electric Cooperative (WFEC) members have voiced their concerns, shared personal experiences, and frustrations over the frequency of power disruptions - especially in recent years after Hurricane Michael. WFEC wants our members to know we hear you and take this matter as seriously as you. Cooperative staff has been exploring the underlying causes of these power outages and seeking solutions to ensure a more reliable and robust electrical infrastructure for the future.

Several articles discussing the challeges faced by the co-op to maintain approximately 4,800 miles of overhead powerlines in the co-op's fourcounty service area have been published and shared with our members. But, those articles have not gone into detail about the primary causes of outagesespecially those associated with rights-of-way.

From January 1, 2019 through December 31, 2022, the four years following Hurricane Michael, the following issues were the primary causes of outages throughout WFEC's service area: continued on page 4

40% Right-of-Way Issues: These outages are caused primarily by dead trees, limbs on lines, tree growth, etc.

35% Weather: These outages are caused by lightning, wind, or other weatherrelated issues (which contributes to right-of-way issues).

11% Animals: These outages are caused by squirrels, birds, snakes, or other animals coming into contact with lines or equipment.

6% Equipment Failure: These outages are caused by faulty equipment or materials.

6% Accidents: These outages are caused by motor vehicle crashes, fires, heavy equipment, customer-caused, etc.

2% Planned Outages: These outages are caused by construction, maintenance, or line/equipment upgrades performed by the cooperative.