We are dedicated to providing you the most reliable, dependable electric service possible. However with over 3000 miles of lines and thousands of devices exposed to weather, wildlife, trees, automobiles, vandalism and other unexpected conditions, outages occasionally occur.
If an outage does occur, please follow these steps:
- Check your fuses/circuit breakers and replace or reset as necessary. You may need to call an electrician if fuses continue to blow or breakers trip; the circuit may be overloaded or there may be a short.
- Visually check all outside wiring
- If any of the lights or appliances in your home are still operating, the trouble may be in your own system
- Check with neighbors to see if they have electricity. This will help us determine the extent of the problem.
- Check the transformer fuse to see if it is blown. Most pole mounted transformers have a ¡¥flipper¡¦ type fuse holder. If the fuse is blown, the fuse holder will spring to an upright position and the fuse will no longer be visible.
- Call the Cooperative at 800-927-6068 or 319-462-3541. Be prepared to give the name on the bill, your address, the account number and the telephone number you are calling from.
In the event of major storms, service to substations will be restored first, then primary feeder lines, then individual services until every call is answered. How to Reset a Circuit Breaker - Disconnect lamps and appliances in use when circuit went out
- Move handle to OFF position
- Push handle past OFF position
- Return handle to ON position
How to Change a Fuse - Disconnect lamps and appliances in use when circuit went out
- Make sure your hands are dry; stand on a dry board or rubber pad if possible. Open main switch or pull-out section of panel labeled "Main" in the service entrance to cut off current while working at the branch circuit box.
Identify the blown fuse. When a fuse blows the transparent section becomes cloudy or blackened. - Replace the blown fuse with a new one of proper size. The smaller sizes screw in and out like light bulbs. If the blown fuse is a cartridge type, located in the pull-out section, it can be removed and replaced by hand pressure. Do not oversize the fuses.
- Close the main switch or replace pull-out section to restore service
The beautiful shade trees surrounding your home or farm can quickly become a dangerous threat if they are too close to power lines. Trees that contact the lines can cause power outages, serious injury and even death. Please notify the Cooperative at 800-927-6068 or 319-462-3541 or email
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if you believe a tree is too close to the line (within 10 feet). A properly trained lineman will trim trees that are near Cooperative lines leading up to your meter. Electrical lines you own, that lead from the meter to your house or farm, are your responsibility to maintain.
If a Cooperative employee notices a tree in or near an electric line, the tree will be trimmed or cut to remove the hazard. We realize this may not always agree with your home landscaping plans, however safety and uninterrupted power must be our first priorities.
If you are building a new grain bin or a new building, or adding motors or other equipment that will significantly increase your electrical needs, it is important you visit with a Cooperative employee. We want to make sure the transformer assigned to your location will adequately serve your additional needs. Call 800-927-6068. The economics of power line construction do not allow for guaranteed electric service under all conditions. Unavoidable events such as ice storms, high winds and accidents still occur to create power failures. If you have an electric load that can be adversely affected by a power outage (ie: health needs, hog confinements) you may be interested in a standby generator with a double-throw switch and an adequate alarm system. For everyone¡¦s safety, before installing any generator, contact the Cooperative about getting it properly installed. In addition to seriously damaging electric equipment, improperly installed generators could electrocute Cooperative personnel, your neighbor or you!
Stray voltage is a small voltage (less than 10 volts) that can be measured between two possible contact points. These voltages are common throughout the United States. A current will flow if an animal or person comes in contact with these points.
Being confined in a damp wet environment, cattle and swine are more sensitive to current flow because they have less body resistance than people.
Any reading below 0.5 volts is considered acceptable by industry standards for farms. Any reading above 0.5 volts could be cause for concern and should be evaluated.
Please notify Maquoketa Valley Electric Cooperative or your Electric Utility. Also, contact a Qualified Electrician to inspect your electrical system for possible problems.
ATTENTION: New 2002 National Electric Code for Agricultural Buildings - Article 547 - page 70-437 through 70-439.
To prevent a "STRAY VOLTAGE" in your "NEW" livestock (dairy-swine) building, follow the Code before pouring cement for walls, floors, and entrance door areas. Installing a steel mesh in the floor/walls and bonding the mesh and all metal objects back to the building's grounding electrode system will provide an Equipotential Plane for your livestock. For more information or questions, contact MVEC and your local U.S. Agricultural office. Links to more information about Stray Voltage. |
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