Lightning takes its toll

South Mississippi is among the highest areas nationwide in terms of lightning activity. In June alone, there were 5,100 lightning strikes recorded in Mississippi Power’s 23-county service area. The Coast Division experienced 2,629 of them, the Pine Belt Division (Hattiesburg/Laurel) had 1,674, and the Meridian Division had 797. When the numbers for July are compiled, the total might be even higher.

“Lightning is a major cause of damage for any electrical system,” said company spokesman Kurt Brautigam. “About 22 percent of outage minutes per year for our customers can be attributed to lightning.”

A single stroke of lightning is so powerful that it doesn’t have to directly hit electrical equipment to play havoc with it. Induced strokes, which are indirect strikes that hit a nearby tree or other object and then travel to a power line, are more frequent than direct lightning hits.

“We have numerous ways we try to minimize the damage lightning causes to our system, but sometimes there is only so much you can do,” Brautigam said. “With a direct hit, all equipment is subject to damage. We’ve seen transformers rupture or had them knocked off poles.”

Distribution lines, transmission lines and substations are also vulnerable to damage by lightning. During a recent storm, the company’s operations center received a direct hit, causing temporary problems with phone and computer systems. When equipment is hit, it must be repaired or replaced, often in relatively severe weather. “Our employees are used to going the extra mile when it comes to restoring service,” said Brautigam. “Mississippi Power’s record regarding customer outages has long been among the industry’s best, in spite of the challenges posed by serving one of the most lightning prone areas of the country.”

Report Power Outages to Mississippi Power

Summer storm season is upon us, often bringing with it torrential rains, thunderstorms and other forms of severe weather.

When bad weather interrupts Mississippi Power’s electrical service, customers should call the Customer Service Center at 1-800-ITS-DARK (800-487-3275). This automated phone number is dedicated to reporting power outages and is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It’s the fastest way to notify Mississippi Power of an outage.

Customers should not call 911 to report outages unless they have a life-threatening medical emergency. By calling 911 to report outages, customers tie up the line for others who may need it to report actual emergencies.

Mississippi Power crews follow a plan that stays consistent regardless of where or when an outage occurs. They must first restore power to transmission lines and distribution circuits before working on distribution lines that feed directly to homes and businesses. Once crews are assured that major distribution lines are working, they then spread out to pick up service to smaller, scattered outages.

Hospitals, police and fire stations and other emergency facilities are usually the first priority for restoration of power. However, be assured that Mississippi Power crews work to restore power to all customers as quickly as possible.

As with any storm in which there are downed power lines, poles or other damage to the electricity infrastructure, Mississippi Power`s first priority is with the safety of its customers and employees.

Here are some safety tips for customers to follow when severe weather hits.

 Treat any wire on the ground as if it is energized and report it immediately to Mississippi Power or local public safety authorities. Stay out of the immediate area.

 Avoid debris lying on the ground that could conceal downed power lines.

 Steer clear of Mississippi Power crew work areas. Equipment and energized lines may be in the area that could create a safety hazard.

 Don`t attempt to make repairs to Mississippi Power`s electrical system or pull limbs off of lines.

 When driving, watch for crews working along the roadways, and obey all traffic signs and directions around work areas.

 Also when driving, don’t try to pass and get mixed in with a series of power company vehicles—escort trucks are in the line with pole trucks or bucket trucks for safety reasons.

TRI numbers decrease for 2001

Mississippi Power officially filed its annual Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) reports for 2001 to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the state Department of Environmental Quality in July. These required reports help inform the public of more than 600 chemicals or substances that might either be produced or used during operations by various businesses located near their communities.

Mississippi Power’s generating units release some of the specified elements during the process of burning coal or natural gas to produce electricity. Some elements in coal, including metals such as barium, copper, zinc and chromium, are collected in the ash produced by combustion and remain on the plant sites. Other elements turn into aerosols when they’re burned and leave the plants’ stacks in minimal concentrations (parts per billion). “TRI numbers are simply part of a reporting process,” said Kurt Brautigam, MPC spokesman. “They’re a direct reflection of the chemical content of the coal we burn, and they can easily vary over time. It’s important to note, however, that EPA has determined that these emissions are not hazardous, and they are not regulated.”

For 2001, Plant Watson near Gulfport and Plant Daniel in Jackson County saw significant decreases in their total releases – 54 percent lower overall compared to the previous year.

“The numbers are lower for the same reason they were higher the previous year – how hot the summer was, how much coal we burned and what types of coal were used,” Brautigam said. “We use coal from various sources and of different chemical makeup, depending on what is available and economical.

“There are some groups or individuals who mistakenly believe TRI reporting reflects some level of pollution. That’s simply not the case. Even though the substances on the list might be toxic at some level of exposure, the levels at which they’re released from our plants is minimal.”

Total Mississippi Power TRI Releases

1998 8,016,426 lbs.

1999 10,908,331 lbs.

2000 14,210,652 lbs.

2001 6,658,156 lbs.

Project Share under way

This summer Mississippi Power has initiated Project Share, a nationally recognized program designed to provide assistance to utility customers. Customer donations will be added to the contribution already made by the company to kick off the effort.

“Project Share is a way of providing emergency help for those truly in need,” said company spokesman Kurt Brautigam. “We understand that situations or emergencies can arise that make it hard for some customers to pay their bills, so we are extremely pleased that we are now able to offer our customers an opportunity to help one another.”

The Red Cross of Mississippi will administer Project Share and oversee eligibility for assistance based on established guidelines. “Red Cross reaches each of the communities we serve and has been a partner with us for eighteen years,” said Brautigam. The Red Cross has administered a direct contribution from the company to help those in need with energy bills since 1984.

Customers who wish to participate in Project Share may check an amount of $1, $2 or $5 per month in the upper right hand corner of their bills. Customers who pay their bills automatically by bank transfer may participate by calling Mississippi Power’s customer service center at 1-800-532-1502.

Once a customer begins giving to Project Share, their designated amount will be added and noted separately on their Mississippi Power bill every month. The contribution may be tax deductible depending on an individual’s tax situation. Customers may change or cancel their contributions at any time by contacting the company.

“We’ve had an excellent response from customers so far,” said Brautigam. “We hope to present the first check reflecting customer donations to Red Cross within the next few weeks, and then on a monthly basis after that. We know the need for these funds is out there and they’ll certainly be put to good use.”

Tips to lower energy bills

When the weather gets really hot as it has this summer, just about everybody is interested in tips to lower their energy bill. Keeping cool as economically as possible is a high priority for many.  Central air conditioning – Set the thermostat at the highest comfortable temperature and keep doors between rooms open. The recommended summer setting is 78 degrees. Change or clean filters monthly.

 The outside unit – Don’t let trash or weeds block airflow around the outside unit of a central air conditioning system. Have the outside unit cleaned and checked once a year.  Use ceiling fans – Ceiling fans keep the air circulating and can make a room feel comfortable at a higher temperature.

 Room air conditioners – Don’t try to cool too large an area. Close the doors to other rooms and close curtains to block sunlight that will heat the room. Daily living habits can also have a significant effect on total energy usage.

 Hot water – Set the water heater no higher than 130 degrees for average use. Use cold water for laundry when possible and wash only full loads in the dishwasher.  Laundry – Accumulate laundry and wash only full loads if possible. If laundry facilities are in an air-conditioned area, run them at night for less heat build up in the house.

 Cooking – A microwave produces little room heat as it cooks. Match pots and pans to the burner size and cover them for quicker heating. When possible, cook several items at once when using a conventional oven.

 Refrigerator – Open and close the door quickly to retain the cold temperature inside.