Outage Map
An ongoing, long-term effort was launched in late 2016 to upgrade 1,400 miles of underground power cables on CEC’s system. These lines were direct-buried, meaning no enclosure in conduit. Each year we target the sections of the system with the lowest reliability record. The cable is replaced and housed in conduit to protect it and make future repairs easier, safer, and quicker.
Read more about the program in this Understanding Underground Cable Replacement brochure (PDF).
More than 45,000 power poles populate the landscape of Central Electric’s 5,300 square-mile service area. Some of these poles were originally installed when the co-op was established in 1941.
In 2017 CEC began a program of proactively replacing 400 poles each year. With the number of poles on the system, we consider this a permanent program because once we’ve replaced today’s newest poles many years from now, it will be time to start over again.
These pole replacements are in addition to ones changed out each year due to damage from vehicle accidents, severe weather conditions, or old age.
Read more about the program in this October 2017 article in Ruralite: Project to Replace 75 Year-Old Poles Begins (PDF).
Power lines and birds can be a dangerous mix. That’s why Central Electric installs protective devices on those sections of its 2,200 miles of overhead lines where local bird populations like to roost or build nests. These devices include nesting platforms, elevated perches, and insulated coverings.
CEC has a long history of working with local conservation groups and has its own policy for preventing birds from being harmed.
