On the evening of August 14, 2024, a severe thunderstorm with high winds struck our community, causing significant damage to one of our main feed utility poles. These winds led to the damage of a jumper wire, affecting power delivery to many customers downstream from this location.
Due to the challenging and hazardous conditions of the damaged pole and the specific position of the jumper wire, we determined that the safest and most efficient solution was to deenergize the entire north circuit. This approach allowed our crew to complete the necessary repairs quickly and safely.
Ensuring a safe work environment for our city employees is our top priority. While planned maintenance often allows us to provide advance notice of outages, unexpected weather events like the one that night can limit our ability to notify customers ahead of time. We understand that power outages can be inconvenient and appreciate the patience of our residents during such situations.
We recognize that some individuals have expressed frustration regarding the lack of advance notice. However, it's important to understand that our primary goal is to address emergencies promptly and effectively, even if it means temporarily affecting additional customers to restore power to all customers more efficiently. The decision to disconnect power to a few more customers was made to expedite the restoration process for those already affected.
Our city employees are dedicated to providing reliable and affordable utility services, often working under challenging conditions without seeking acknowledgment or thanks. We are committed to transparency and will continue our communication and response strategies to serve our community the best and safest way possible.
We appreciate our residents who understand and cooperate as we work to maintain and restore utility services in the wake of unforeseen events.
Scott Moore
City Manager
City of Yuma