In the Upper Peninsula, changing seasons bring changing weather and an increased potential for power outages. Strong winds, saturated ground, and falling trees can damage electric infrastructure, leaving customers without service.
Restoring power takes more than sending a line crew to the nearest reported outage. It requires preparation, coordination, and a clear understanding of where crews can make the greatest impact. Here's a look at how UPPCO prepares for storms, responds to outages and keeps customers informed along the way.
Before the Storm: Preparing to Respond
When severe weather is forecast, UPPCO begins preparing before any outages ever occur.
Severe weather alerts and forecasts of high winds, or other potentially damaging conditions, can prompt internal readiness meetings. Operations, safety, customer service, supply chain, facilities, communications and other teams assess available resources, identify potential needs, and coordinate their response. When widespread outages appear likely, UPPCO may also secure additional contract crews to assist.
Each department has a role to play. Customer service prepares for increased call volumes, while communications shares advance weather alerts and reminders about outage reporting and storm safety. These early updates help customers prepare while ensuring they know where to turn if service is interrupted.
This preparation helps align the organization so teams can respond quickly and adjust as conditions develop.
During an Outage: Coordinating the Response
Once outages occur, UPPCO's System Operations Center (SOC) maintains an overall view of the situation, using outage information and field reports to coordinate with crews and area supervisors across the service territory.
When multiple outages occur at once, the System Operations Center evaluates where available crews can make the greatest impact on restoring service. The goal is to restore the most amount of customers as quickly as possible and coordinate work efficiently while accounting for the conditions crews encounter in the field.
That work often begins with employees whose role is to guard downed wires or assess damage rather than make repairs. Sometimes called Damage Assessor's in the utility industry, these field personnel investigate reported damage to poles, power lines, trees, and other equipment and are qualified to safely secure a scene to prevent residents from encountering dangerous conditions. They document their findings in UPPCO's outage management system and may even use photographs or drones to help assess conditions.
Why does this matter? A crew may need a replacement pole, specialized equipment, or specific materials to complete a repair. Having that information ahead of time helps crews arrive better prepared and spend more time doing the work needed to restore service.
From there, line crews make repairs, report new findings, and coordinate with the System Operations Center as progress is made. Restoring one section of the system can also reveal additional damage farther down the line, requiring crews to reassess resource and material needs.
Why Restoration Can Take Time
When the power goes out, customers naturally want to know when it will return. Unfortunately, providing an exact restoration time isn't always possible until crews have assessed the damage.
A repair that initially appears straightforward can become more complicated when crews discover additional damage or encounter difficult ground conditions such as rocky terrain, frozen ground, saturated soil, or areas that are difficult to access with equipment. Severe weather can also make it unsafe to continue working, requiring crews to pause until conditions improve.
UPPCO prioritizes the safety of its employees and the public throughout restoration efforts. While these pauses can be frustrating for customers waiting for service, crews must be able to work safely before repairs can continue.
Just because you don’t see crews in your neighborhood doesn’t mean restoration work isn’t happening. Repairs to infrastructure miles away may be necessary before crews can restore service in your area. Every storm and every outage is different, and new findings can change the work required to get the lights back on. For these reasons, UPPCO generally avoids providing restoration estimates that may prove unreliable.
Staying Informed and Prepared
UPPCO uses several channels to communicate during significant outages, including its website, press releases, emails, and the official Facebook page. Field photos may be shared when they help illustrate the conditions crews are facing.
During prolonged or widespread outages, UPPCO coordinates with county and local emergency management and typically publishes updates in the morning and evening, with Facebook updates added as circumstances warrant throughout the day. Customers can also check the UPPCO outage map to view reported outages across the service territory.
Remember that reporting an outage and following outage updates are two different things. To officially report an outage, call UPPCO's 24-hour electrical emergency line at (906) 449-2011 or sign in to your online account. Social media is not monitored for outage reports.
A little preparation at home can also make an outage easier to manage. UPPCO recommends that customers:
- Develop an emergency plan for electrically powered medical equipment.
- Keep at least three days of food, water, and medication on hand.
- Stock supplies for infants and pets and keep flashlights and fresh batteries accessible.
- Review portable generator safety guidance before an outage occurs.
- Keep contact information current in your UPPCO account.
Find additional tips in UPPCO's emergency preparedness guide.
“We understand how disruptive it is to lose power, especially when weather conditions are challenging. Every outage is different, and the full extent of the damage isn't always clear until crews reach the affected area. We want to provide useful, accurate information while being honest about what we know and what may still change.”
- Dan Freeborn, Manager of Communications & External Affairs
Safety Comes First
If you encounter a downed power line, stay at least 35 feet away and call 9-1-1 immediately. Always assume a downed line is energized, even if it isn't sparking or making noise. Never touch a line or attempt to remove a tree or branch that is in contact with electrical equipment.
If a power line falls across your vehicle, remain inside and call 9-1-1. If fire or another immediate danger forces you to leave, jump clear without touching the vehicle and the ground at the same time, shuffling to a safe distance making sure not to lift your feet as you create space from the accident.
Storms can create difficult conditions for everyone, including the crews working to restore service. Through advance preparation, coordinated response and ongoing communication, UPPCO works to restore power as safely and efficiently as conditions allow.