Discover how weather affects the power system

Violent storms can bring gusts of wind that cause damage, as well as large hailstones and heavy rain. A tornado that touches down in a forest can uproot a whole swath of trees.

The width of transmission line rights of way is determined by the voltage of the electric current in the lines. Vegetation must be maintained to prevent flash-overs that could occur during major weather events like strong winds and gusts of wind.

Wet snow is perfect for building snowmen, but it is seven to ten times heavier than powdery snow. This additional weight can cause branches and trees to bend onto the power lines and cause an outage.

When freezing rain accumulates on power lines, it can weigh them down, reducing the safe distance from the surrounding vegetation. Freezing rain can also accumulate on tree branches, causing them to break under the increased weight and fall onto the lines. Ice storms can also cause wooden utility poles and steel towers to fall.