According to the National Hurricane Center, the Atlantic basin hurricane season in 2025 is expected to be above average with an increased number of named storms, hurricanes, and major hurricanes. That means there is an elevated risk for tropical systems that could impact our service territory. While forecasts can change, we are taking proactive measures to ensure we’re ready to meet whatever challenges come our way.

When hurricanes or other severe storms damage the electric system, restoring power safely and efficiently is a complex, step-by-step process. Here’s how we do it:

1

Transmission Lines
These high-voltage lines transport large amounts of electricity from generating plants to substations or between substations. Damage here can cut off power to thousands of members. These lines are repaired first because they are the backbone of the system—power cannot flow to any substations until transmission service is restored.

2

Substations
Substations step down high-voltage electricity to lower levels that can be used by homes and businesses. A problem at a substation can affect all members served by it. Once transmission lines are repaired, crews work to bring substations back online.

3

Main Distribution Lines
The next priority is restoring the primary distribution lines—these are the 7,200- to 14,400-volt lines you see running along major roadways. They deliver power from substations into neighborhoods and communities. Repairing these lines can restore service to large groups of members.

4

Tap Lines
Tap lines are smaller feeder lines that branch off from main distribution lines and serve smaller groups of homes or businesses. Crews work on these after main lines are restored to bring power to additional members.

5

Individual Service Lines
Finally, crews address outages affecting individual members, such as damage to the service line running from a transformer to a home’s meter. These repairs are made once larger system issues are resolved. This systematic approach ensures that power is restored to the greatest number of members in the shortest amount of time while keeping our line crews safe.

How Technology Helps Us Restore Power Faster

During storms, Four County EMC uses advanced technology to monitor our system, detect problems, and speed up repairs. Our control center can “see” what’s happening on the electric grid in real time, helping us quickly pinpoint outages and sometimes even restore power remotely. This technology also helps us send crews directly to the problem areas faster, saving valuable time and getting the lights back on for more members sooner.