Who owns what? Understanding electric equipment responsibilities  

As the warmer months roll into shorter days and falling temperatures, it also brings the increased potential for severe weather. Storms can arrive quickly and hit hard, sometimes causing significant damage to essential electric equipment throughout our community. 
San Luis Valley REC is always prepared to respond swiftly to outages and restore power safely, but it is also important for homeowners to understand which parts of the electric system are their responsibility and which are maintained by us at the co-op. Understanding these key differences can help speed up repairs and ensure everyone stays safe when the weather turns rough.
REC is responsible for maintaining and repairing the equipment and lines that run to your home, including utility poles, distribution power lines, electric meters and padmounted transformers. 
REC members are responsible for the equipment located between the electric meter and your home or business, including any underground service lines that lead into the structure and the service panel. Members are also responsible for the weatherhead and service mast located outside the home, as well as the pedestal.
If any equipment that you (the homeowner) are responsible for is damaged, please call a licensed electrician to conduct the repairs. A professional has the experience and know-how to assess and manage these types of repairs. 
When severe weather damages electrical equipment, it’s important to note that any necessary repairs to the homeowner’s equipment must be conducted before REC crews can restore power to your home or business. By understanding the equipment you are responsible for, the repair and restoration process will be smoother and faster. 
Our community takes great pride in the beautiful trees and landscaping that contribute to the natural beauty where we live, however, regular trimming is essential to ensure reliable electric service and minimize damage from severe weather. REC regularly trims trees throughout our service territory to improve service reliability. If you spot a tree limb that is obstructing a distribution power line outside your home, please give us a call so we can trim those limbs and maintain those lines. 
Any overgrown limbs or vegetation around the service line is the homeowner’s responsibility, and in these cases, please call a professional tree trimming service to assist.
By working together to understand the essential equipment that powers daily life, we can all be better prepared to start the repair and restoration process if severe weather impacts our community.