The quality and reliability of your electric service is a top priority of Pella Cooperative Electric.  We understand that outages and blinks can be an inconvenience.  A variety of factors, many of which are out of our control, can affect your electric service.  A few include:

• Weather - lightning, snow, ice, severe thunderstorms, and tornados.
• Peak usage
• Start-up spikes (external and internal)
• Construction
• Car accidents
• Animals
• Trees
• Faulty or undersized internal wiring

Pella Cooperative Electric implements solutions where possible, by installing animal guards, trimming or removing problem vegetation, and coordinating construction efforts so members see the fewest interruptions in service as possible.

Outages

We do everything in our power to prevent power outages.  However, there can be no guarantee of uninterrupted service.  We strongly recommend that commercial members install back up power systems, minimizing the effect of an outage on your business. 

Blinks

A blink is the system's way of preventing a full-scale outage.  When an object, such as a tree branch, comes into contact with the power line, the system will shut off and immediately reset itself.  It will "blink" up to three times, giving the item time to clear itself.  This action prevents many outages, which would require crews to respond. 

We understand it is frustrating to reset clocks and other electronic devices.  If you experience blinks often, please contact the cooperative.

Trees

Pella Cooperative Electric maintains 650 miles of lines in five counties.  Each year, through our vegetation management, we systematically identify problem vegetation. Members can assist us in improving the reliability of electric service by paying special attention to trees and bushes:

• If you see vegetation that is touching power lines, please report that information to our operations department.  We will, at no cost, trim it to the point it is no longer a threat to the system or remove it all together.  It is the responsibility of the member to clean up the debris.
  
• The best way to ensure the reliability of your service is to prevent problems before they start. Avoid planting trees near power lines.  As the mature, they can present both a safety and reliability problem.  Use the guide below to determine the appropriate distance to plant trees from power lines.  Also, avoid planting bushes near transformers, meters, and underground lines.