Who owns what?

A message from Manager of Operations, Adam Osborn

As July rolls in with longer days and rising temperatures, it also brings the increased potential for severe weather. Summer storms can arrive quickly and hit hard, sometimes causing significant damage to essential electric equipment throughout our community. 

Butler Rural Electric Cooperative is 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 the co-op. Understanding these differences can help speed up repairs and ensure everyone stays safe when the weather turns rough. 

Butler Rural Electric Cooperative is responsible for maintaining and repairing the equipment and lines that run to your home, including utility poles, distribution power lines, electric meters, and pad-mounted transformers. 

Members are responsible for the equipment located between the electric meter and your home, 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. 

If any equipment that you 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. Butler Rural Electric Cooperative has licensed and insured electricians on staff who can help with these repairs. 

When severe weather damages electric equipment, it's important to note any necessary repairs to the homeowner’s equipment must be conducted before Butler Rural Electric Cooperative’s crews can restore power to your home. By understanding the equipment you are responsible for, you can make the repair and restoration process smoother and faster. 

Regular tree trimming is essential to ensure reliable electric service and minimize damage from severe weather. Butler Rural Electric Cooperative 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 of your property, please contact us so we can trim the limbs and maintain our lines. 

Any overgrown limbs or vegetation around the service line is the homeowner’s responsibility. 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 hits our community. 

If you have questions about your electric equipment, we’re here to help. Please contact Butler Rural Electric Cooperative at butler@butlerrural.coop or 513-867-4400.