Homer Electric Association is restoring some of its underground cables this summer, from Kenai over to Funny River.
Dale Marsengill, manager of engineering services for HEA, said it’s because cables that are underground for so long end up fraying, with cracks in wire insulation. The deterioration can cause power outages.
To avoid potential damage, HEA is injecting silicone into the ground to seal the cracks in cable insulation. They’re working their way through segments of cable, starting with those installed prior to 1990.
“We’re basically trying to wrap it kind of in a blanket, think of it that way," said KeriAnn Baker, director of member relations for the co-op. "So that any of the elements or anything underground doesn’t cause any interference. So the line can stay energized all the time.”
Members will experience power outages when repairs are happening on their lines.
“We know that as we upgrade this, it’s going to take a couple hours, usually, depending on where you are," Baker said. "But doing this on the front end, in good weather, that we can predict, is a lot easier than letting it get old and having an emergency.”
Baker said HEA will let members know when they’re going to be working on a given area. She said the co-op also has a list of people who need even more advance notice — whether they have medical equipment linked to a source of power or otherwise.
HEA also has an outage map available online.
