OKPUD work crews will take the following steps before restoring electrical service after a de-energization event. These measures are intended to protect the worker, the general public, and the system's reliability.
- Patrol: De-energized lines are patrolled to ensure no hazards have affected the system during the outage. If an outage is due to a wildfire or other natural disaster, as soon as it is deemed safe by emergency response officials, lines and equipment are inspected for damage or foreign objects contacting the lines, and to assess the need for equipment repairs and reconstruction. Lines located in remote and rugged terrain with limited access may require additional time for inspection. VM crews are called on to assist in clearing downed trees and limbs as needed.
- Isolate: Isolate the outage and restore power to areas not affected.
- Repair: After the initial assessment, OKPUD supervisors, managers, and engineers meet to plan the needed work. Re-building will commence as soon as affected areas become safe. Repair plans prioritize substations, then distribution circuits that serve the most critical infrastructure needs. While the goal is to reenergize all areas as soon as possible, emergency services, medical facilities, and utilities are given first consideration when resources are limited. Additional crews and equipment will be dispatched as necessary.
- Test: After repairs are completed and the equipment is safe to operate, line segments are energized and tested.
- Restore: After successful line testing, power is restored to homes and businesses as quickly as possible. After initial power restoration, further demolition and rebuilding may be necessary.