Was that a blink?
Have you ever noticed your lights flicker during a thunderstorm? Or maybe you’ve had to reset the clocks in your house after a brief power interruption. This is known as a “blink” and, as inconvenient as it might be, it demonstrates that YEC’s electrical equipment is working properly, protecting against further damage and preventing longer outages.
Yes, that was a blink and it’s perfectly normal. Continue reading to earn more about power blinks.
York Electric Cooperative works year-round to prevent outages by aggressively trimming rights-of-way, conducting system improvements and inspections, moving overhead power lines underground and performing constant system maintenance. However, we know we cannot predict or prevent all service interruptions. So, our electrical system is designed to minimize the effects of outages to members when they do occur. A power blink is proof that our system is working properly.
What is a power blink?
Power blinks are short service interruptions that are caused by a fault on the line. A fault occurs when something contacts an energized line, disrupting the flow of electricity. This could be a squirrel, tree limb, lightning, a car accident or something similar. For example, when a tree limb falls onto a line, and then to the ground, the power blinks, but it does not stay off for long. In this instance, while the flow of electricity is momentarily interrupted, the smart devices on our system detect whether or not it is safe to resume normal power distribution.
What causes an outage after a blink?
It is common for the device to attempt to clear the line of a fault more than once. If the line is not cleared or the smart device detects other problems, the line will de-energize to protect against further equipment damages and ensure safety. Simultaneously during an outage situation, additional equipment communicates with YEC’s outage management system to help isolate the problem, pinpoint the outage and predict the outage cause so that crews can respond as quickly as possible.
Regardless of the cause, YEC crews will be dispatched to inspect any damage and make repairs after a power outage.
What’s the difference between a blink and a full-blown outage?
Momentary outages occur when a disturbance on the line is detected. These disturbances could be caused by a lightning strike, a squirrel or tree branch contacting the line, or a downed line or outage in a nearby area, etc. If a fault or short circuit occurs on a power line, a device called a recloser opens to stop it and then quickly closes. This device allows power to continue flowing through the line with only a brief interruption of service rather than causing an extended power outage. Although the process is quick and usually temporary, it may cause your lights to blink. If the short circuit continues, the recloser will operate or ‘trip’ three times before eventually stopping the flow of electricity and causing a power outage. This process protects the lines from damage by cutting off power to the affected section of the line and isolating the problem until it can be repaired.
Have you experienced repeated disruptions to your electric service? Please let us know by emailing our member services team or use our website’s chat feature at the bottom right of each web page.
Causes of Power Outages & Blinks
Power Outage FAQ
Call 1-866-374-1234. York Electric encourages you to call our 24-hour ‘PowerTouch’ outage reporting system so we can quickly locate where the problem is occurring and send crews out right away. Any detailed information you can supply about the outage is very beneficial in the troubleshooting process. Note: Before reporting the outage, YEC recommends that you first check your main breakers in your electrical panel.
YEC uses an automatic phone answering system to handle power outage reports. If your correct phone number is on file with our office, your phone call can be handled more efficiently. Having the correct contact information also allows us to make any follow-up calls to you about electric service problems. If your phone number has changed since you signed up for your electric service, please contact our member services department at 803-684-4248.
This depends on the amount of damage sustained and current conditions. Field personnel must complete a damage assessment before any reliable estimate can be made.
Momentary outages occur when a disturbance on the line is detected. These disturbances could be caused by a lightning strike, a squirrel or tree branch contacting the line, or a downed line or outage in a nearby area, etc. If a fault or short circuit occurs on a power line, a device called a recloser opens to stop it and then quickly closes. This device allows power to continue flowing through the line with only a brief interruption of service rather than causing an extended power outage. Although the process is quick and usually temporary, it may cause your lights to blink. If the short circuit continues, the recloser will operate or ‘trip’ three times before eventually stopping the flow of electricity and causing a power outage. This process protects the lines from damage by cutting off power to the affected section of the line and isolating the problem until it can be repaired.
Causes of Power Outages & Blinks
Some neighborhoods get electricity from several different circuits, so you may notice your lights are out, but your neighbors have power. In such cases, the problem could be originating from your house’s electric line, a particular tap line, a main feeder line, or at the substation. For us to determine where the problem originates, it is extremely important that you call 1-866-374-1234 and report the outage with your exact street address and correct phone number.
This may be an incidence of partial power. At this point, members should unplug large/major appliances such as refrigerators, ovens, air conditioners, etc., as this could cause a power fluctuation and result in another outage. Once lights are bright, indicating full power has been restored, it is safe to plug in major appliances.
During times of multiple power outages, YEC concentrates our initial restoration efforts in the areas and on the power lines that restore electricity to the greatest number of people in the shortest period of time. We place emphasis on vital community services, emergency services, and public safety. Please be patient, and we will restore your electric service as soon as we possibly can.
Many people think that the loud noise they heard was the sound of a transformer exploding, due to lightning or other extreme conditions. This was probably not the case. The noise could have been a fuse blowing. YEC’s power lines use fuses in a similar manner to the way you use fuses in your home. These fuses protect parts of our distribution system when severe weather strikes. The noise can be substantial leading many people to think something has exploded. When reporting an outage, it is very helpful when you tell us you heard a loud noise because it helps us isolate the location of problems on our lines.
Some smoke alarms are powered by AC (alternating current) and use a battery backup. When these units lose power momentarily they may chirp several times to inform you they are on backup power or are returning to main power. For more information, review the manufacturer’s documentation on your type of alarm.
You should first refer to your disaster plan and call your home health nurse and physician. You should notify your family and/or friends and call EMS especially if your situation is life threatening. YEC reminds members who have extreme critical health needs that require a continuous power source during an outage, to make arrangements before the crisis to relocate to a place where those needs can be met. Another option is to make personal arrangements for a generator to hook up to machines that have to be kept running. Generators should never be hooked into a home or business’ electric circuit. Generators should only be connected directly to critical care machines or other appliances.
In a major storm, assume you may be without power for some time. Turn off electric appliances (like an iron or stove) so you won’t create a safety hazard when the power is turned back on. Remember to include air-conditioning among appliances you turn off. Never report hazardous situations by e-mail. Always call the office at 1-866-374-1234 so we can respond immediately!
Check for water saturation of your ceilings and light fittings inside and outside. If wet, call us immediately. If there is no obvious damage to your light fittings, turn off all but one light. Check the lighting circuit’s fuse or circuit breaker operation at your switchboard. Turn off your main switch and replace the fuse. Turn the main switch again. If the fuse blows, call YEC.
If you receive a tingling sensation from any electrical appliances, turn off the electricity immediately. Do not make contact with or let anyone else near the suspected appliance and call YEC.
Lights being dimmer than usual, hot plates slow to cook, and motors failing to start are all indicative that there might be a problem in the high voltage system. If you observe any of these in your home, turn appliances off and unplug them. Leave a minimum of lights on (such as a fluorescent) and call YEC.
If you notice unusual periodic variations in the normal brightness of your lights – sometimes very bright, sometimes dull – call us. These are symptoms of a potentially hazardous situation. Turn off all your motors and appliances, and leave a minimum of lights on.