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Basic Outage Information

On Tuesday, June 29, our power supplier will be conducting a Critical Maintenance Outage that will affect your power in the La Veta, Cuchara, and surrounding areas.

We know being without power is always inconvenient, and it is especially inconvenient during the summer and tourist season.  

The outage is necessary for Lineworkers’ safety while they replace poles that support high-voltage transmission lines.  

We are committed to keeping you and employees safe. We’ll turn the lights back on as soon as we can.  

We will also attempt to notify all affected members by phone, social media, and through Huerfano County’s Code RED reverse notification system.  

OUTAGE DETAILS: 

The poles being replaced on Tuesday, June 29, support high-voltage transmission lines. Unfortunately, the work cannot safely be completed without a power outage.   

It is important the work is completed in a controlled manner. If the poles or wires came down in an uncontrolled manner, damage to the power system could be extensive and cause an outage lasting much longer.  

WHAT YOU CAN DO: 

If you rely on medical equipment dependent on electricity, have a plan to maintain use of your equipment during the outage. 

Charge mobile devices, cell phones, laptops, etc.  

Unplug computers, televisions, and sensitive electronics.  

Notify your home security company. 

Know how to manually operate garage doors and electric gates.  

Minimize opening refrigerator and freezer doors during the outage.  

If you have a generator, make sure it has been installed properly. Refer to the manufacturer’s instructions for safe generator use.  

Close curtains and windows to keep cool air in, and hot air out. Avoid using electric home appliances such as a dishwasher, washing machine, dryer and ovens. **Town of La Veta

 

Questions: 

If you have questions or concerns, please contact us via email at SystemImprovements@SIEA.com or by calling 800-279-SIEA (7432). 

Cuchara and surrounding areas

The maintenance project will cause a six-to-eight-hour outage in Cuchara and the communities surrounding La Veta, from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Town of La Veta

The critical maintenance project will cause two brief power outages in the Town of La Veta at the beginning and end of the project, at approximately 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. The two brief outages are necessary to switch power to an alternate power source, and to avoid a power outage in the Town of La Veta.  

We are asking members in the La Veta area to please conserve energy use between the hours of 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Tuesday, June 29. If energy use is too high, the Town of La Veta may also be affected by the outage.  

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the outage necessary?

The outage is necessary for Tri-State Lineworkers to replace two H-structures that support high-voltage transmission lines. Due to the dangerous nature of the work, the work cannot be done hot. While a planned outage of this length, in peak tourist season, is never desirable, if the structures are not replaced in a controlled manner, and the structures come down in an uncontrolled manner, there is the potential for catastrophic damage to our system, and the environment in the immediate vicinity.

Why can’t the outage take place in the fall, when the area isn’t as busy?

During a routine inspection, four poles, on two H-structures, were identified for replacement before the winter. Fall is not an ideal time for the outage due to school being in session. We worked with our power-supplier and community leaders to pick a date that would have the lowest impact on the community as possible.

Is there any chance the outage will be longer?

There is not any foreseeable circumstance that would prolong the outage for Cuchara and the surrounding areas. It is important for members and tourists in the La Veta area to conserve energy use between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. If energy use is too high, the Town of La Veta may also be affected by the outage.

Why is the Town of La Veta being asked to conserve energy during the outage?

We can use alternative power sources to keep enough electricity flowing to the Town of La Veta, as long as there is not unusually high electric usage during the maintenance project, from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., Tuesday, June 29. If there is unusually high electric usage, there may not be enough electricity available to provide reliable power to everyone, and the La Veta area would also be included in the outage.