Who Owns What?
Untangling Electrical Equipment Responsibilities
As summer continues with longer days and rising temperatures, the potential for severe weather increases. Storms can arrive quickly and hit hard, sometimes causing significant damage to essential electrical equipment throughout our community.
Rio Grande Electric Cooperative (RGEC) is always prepared to respond swiftly to outages and restore power safely. To get the power back on as quickly as possible, it’s also essential for our members to understand which parts of the electrical system are their responsibility and which are maintained by the Co-op. Understanding these key differences can help speed up repairs and ensure everyone stays safe when the weather turns rough.
RGEC is responsible for maintaining and repairing the equipment and lines that run to your home, including utility poles, distribution power lines, electric meters, and padmount transformers.
Our members are responsible for the equipment located downstream of the electric meter, including any underground service lines that lead into the structure and the service panel or breaker box. Members are also responsible for the weatherhead and service mast, equipment located outside a building that keeps things safe and dry as power enters your home or business.
In the unfortunate circumstance that any equipment owned by you, the homeowner, is damaged, contact a licensed electrician to conduct repairs. A professional has the experience and know-how to assess and manage these types of repairs safely and correctly.
When severe weather damages electrical equipment, completing any necessary repairs to your equipment is an important first step before our crews can restore power to your home or business.
At RGEC, we work year-round to ensure reliable electric service and minimize the risk of storm-related damage. 1 key part of this effort is regular tree trimming within our rights-of-way. While we value the beautiful trees and landscaping that enhance our communities, proactive vegetation management is essential to keeping the power flowing.
Our crews perform tree trimming throughout the year as issues are reported, and our annual contracted trimming begins each September to cover broader areas across our service territory.
You can help us maintain reliable service by reporting any tree limbs that obstruct power lines near your home. If you notice overgrown limbs or vegetation around the service line on your property, please contact a professional tree trimming service for assistance.”
I know there’s never a good time to be without electricity. But by working together to understand the equipment that powers daily life, we can be better prepared to start the repair and restoration process when severe weather impacts our community.
If you have any questions about your electrical equipment, we’re here to help.