March 5, 2012

The route electricity takes within our distribution system to reach your home begins at the substations that supply power to the main distribution feeders or trunk lines. The trunk lines feed power to hundreds of secondary circuits or taps that serve smaller groups of members. During a major storm, your home’s location along this route often determines how long it will take to restore your electricity.

Our strategy during a major storm is to restore power to the largest number of Great Lakes Energy members in the shortest amount of time possible.

Crews repair damages to the transmission lines, substations and trunk lines first. It’s a storm repair strategy that allows us to restore power to the greatest number of members in the shortest amount of time. It often takes the same amount of time to remove trees and restore power for 1,000 people as it does for 10. If you live on a line that serves only a handful of members, it is possible that you may experience a longer wait for the lights to come back on after a big storm.

Although the outage problem outside your home may only require two hours to repair, it could be several hours before crews get to your home in a storm situation. The time it takes lineworkers to reach you is based on the number of other outage locations they must visit, the number of members affected at the other locations and accessibility to these trouble areas.

Restoration time is also affected by the size of the outage, amount of power line damage, safety concerns, and other factors.

Visit http://www.gtlakes.com/outage-information/restoring-power/ for more information.

March 5, 2012

As of 9:30am today, 18,072 Great Lakes Energy members remain without power throughout 18 counties in Northern Lower Michigan.  Power has been restored to 38,332 members since the winter storm began late Friday night. 

The heavy snow has caused severe damage to lines and poles throughout the Great Lakes Energy service area.  Additional contracting crews are being called in from around the state to assist with the restoration efforts.  Line worker and tree trimming crews will continue to work until power is restored to all members.  Electric service may not be restored until Wednesday in some areas. Members without power by 9pm tonight should consider seeking emergency shelter.    

The approximate number of electric members without power this morning are located in the following counties: 

Antrim             4,225

Charlevoix       2,016

Cheboygan      22

Crawford        2,599

Emmet             1,083

Grand Traverse 406

Kalkaska         2,911

Lake                2,450

Manistee          199

Mason             227

Missaukee       48

Montmorency 80

Newaygo         5

Oceana            83

Osceola           28

Oscoda            417

Otsego             1,222

Wexford          51

Current outage information by counties and townships that is updated every 15 minutes can be viewed on the Great Lakes Energy website, www.gtlakes.com, by clicking on Storm Central. 

Great Lakes Energy members are reminded to stay away from downed power lines for their safety and protection. 

Great Lakes Energy members can check on the status of their outage or report a new outage by calling the electric cooperative’s automated, toll-free outage number:  1-800-678-0411.

March 4, 2012

5:30 p.m.

Great Lakes Energy members who do not have power by 9 p.m. Sunday night should make alternate emergency arrangements.  For information about local shelters in the northwestern lower Michigan area call 231-753-8891. Restoration efforts may continue into Tuesday.

Phone lines may be busy due to the massive storm. Great Lakes Energy members who experience a busy signal when reporting their outage should continue calling the electric cooperative’s automated, toll-free outage number:  1-800-678-0411.

March 4, 2012

7:30 a.m.

 An estimated 25,900 Great Lakes Energy members remain without power this morning after massive damage due to wet, heavy snow across Northern Lower Michigan. Power has already been restored to more than 26,000 members since the storm hit Friday night. 

All available Great Lakes Energy lineworker crews assisted by contracted lineworker and tree-trimming crews are back on the job this morning working to restore power.  Great Lakes Energy members who do not have power by 9p.m. Sunday night should make alternate emergency arragements.  Restoration efforts may continue into Tuesday. 

Current outage information by counties and townships that is updated every 15 minutes can be viewed on the Great Lakes Energy website, www.gtlakes.com, by clicking on Storm Central. 

Great Lakes Energy members are reminded to stay away from downed power lines for their safety and protection. 

Phone lines are very busy due to the massive storm. Great Lakes Energy members who experience a busy signal when reporting their outage should continue calling the electric cooperative’s automated, toll-free outage number:  1-800-678-0411.

 More than 28,000 Great Lakes Energy members remain without power today due to wet, heavy snow across Northern Lower Michigan.  The majority of the members without power are in the northern region of the Great Lakes Energy service areas. 

All available Great Lakes Energy lineworker crews assisted by contracted lineworker and tree-trimming crews have worked throughout the day to restore power to more than 16,000 members since the storm hit Friday night.   

Members that are without power this evening should consider making alternate emergency arrangements for the night.  For information about local shelters in Charlevoix and Emmet county call 231-439-3500. 

Current outage information by counties and townships that is updated every 15 minutes can be viewed on the Great Lakes Energy website, www.gtlakes.com, by clicking on Storm Central. 

Great Lakes Energy members are reminded to stay away from downed power lines for their safety and protection.

Phone lines continue to be very busy due to the massive storm. Great Lakes Energy members who experience a busy signal when reporting their outage should continue calling the electric cooperative’s automated, toll-free outage number:  1-800-678-0411.

 March 3, 2012

11 a.m.

An estimated 24,000 Great Lakes Energy members are currently without power today due to wet, heavy snow across Northern Lower Michigan.

 All available Great Lakes Energy lineworker crews assisted by contracted tree-trimming crews are working to restore power.  Most members will not have power restored until late Sunday or Monday and should consider making the necessary emergency arrangements.

Current outage information by counties and townships that is updated every 15 minutes can be viewed on the Great Lakes Energy website, www.gtlakes.com, by clicking on Storm Central.

Great Lakes Energy members are reminded to stay away from downed power lines for their safety and protection. 

Phone lines are very busy due to the massive storm. Great Lakes Energy members who experience a busy signal when reporting their outage should continue calling the electric cooperative’s automated, toll-free outage number:  1-800-678-0411.

February 28, 2012

With the approaching storm, Great Lakes Energy has all lineworker crews plus 18 contracted tree-trimming crews ready throughout its 26 county service area.  The electric utility’s members should also prepare for the storm.

They should make sure GLE has their current phone number. When members call GLE’s toll-free number, 1-800-678-0411, to report an outage, the phone system automatically identifies the caller’s outage location provided Great Lakes Energy has the member’s current number on file. 

The automated phone system allows callers to relay emergency information, such as a downed power line for example, to GLE’s 24-hour dispatch department.

A land-line phone that doesn’t need to be plugged into an electrical outlet to work should be kept as a back-up in the home.  Some land-line phones may not work during an outage, and cell phones, too, if power is interrupted to the cell tower system.

Members who have internet access through their smartphones, at work or at another location can visit  gtlakes.com and click on Storm Central for current updates on outage restoration efforts. They can also access specific information related to the outage at their home.

The Michigan Public Service Commission has other tips for preparing for a power outage that include:

Set aside and designate for emergency use:

• Flashlights
• A Battery‐powered radio
• Extra batteries
• Candles
• Blankets
• A First‐aid kit
• Nonperishable foods
• A Battery‐operated lantern
• Drinking water – (1 gallon per person per day)
• Some emergency cash

Protect electrical items like TVs, electronic entertainment equipment, microwave ovens, and home computers with voltage surge suppressors. If these items are not protected, unplug them before a storm begins to prevent damage.

Avoid downed power lines.

In addition, GLE advises members that portable generators should be connected with special switching equipment that protects both their home and lineworkers repairing the power lines.

To report a power outage, GLE members should call 1-800-678-0411, 24 hours a day.

February 23, 2012

The 2012-2013 Mini-Grant Program of the National Rural Education Association, which is sponsored by NRECA, is now open. The program is open to teachers at K-12 schools in areas served by an electric cooperative. The school itself does not have to be served by an electric co-op.

The application and more information can be found online.

February 23, 2012

The Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) today approved Great Lakes Energy’s transition to member regulation as permitted by Public Act 167 of 2008.

Great Lakes Energy will begin member regulation on March 20, 2012. The existing Commission-approved rates and charges will be used until new ones are approved at a later date.

For more information visit the member regulation section of this site.

Feb. 3, 2012

Great Lakes Energy and its affiliated contractors are not performing residential inspections at member homes relating to Energy Optimization or any other program. If you receive a request for someone to come into  your home to perform an inspection, the call is not legitimate.  You may choose to contact the authorities if you receive a suspicious call.