December High Wind Event – Outage FAQs

No. We have not issued an estimated time of restoration for any outages in the valley. Some areas including Lakeside, Libby and Essex were hit particularly hard, but we do not expect any restorations to take two weeks. Specific restoration times are unknown at this point. We are making progress and power is being restored as crews work 24/7 through challenging conditions to make repairs. We do expect some smaller outages to remain through the weekend, but we have all hands on deck, and we are working to find additional crews and resources we can bring in to assist with restoration efforts.  

No. Our crews will work round the clock until all power has been restored. We are rotating crews to allow them to rest and safely return to continue restoration efforts, but we have every available staff member assisting with this restoration effort. We are working to bring in additional resources and manpower, although the widespread nature of this storm means that assistance from surrounding states and utilities is very limited as most neighboring utilities are dealing with similar situations.  

No. We wish we could, but we are an electric utility, not a medical provider. Please call 9-1-1 if you are experiencing a medical emergency. 

In Flathead County, the Office of Emergency Services and the Red Cross are standing by and ready to open a shelter at the Fairgrounds if requested by a member of the public. You can call 406-758-2111 to make that request. There is an emergency shelter open in Libby at the Memorial Center, for those who need assistance. 

During outage restoration, power doesn’t always come back on for everyone at the same time — even on the same street. Here’s why that can happen: 

• Electric systems are made up of many interconnected pieces, including transmission lines, substations, main distribution lines, transformers, and service lines. Power must be restored in a specific order, and damage at any one of those points can affect individual homes differently. 
• A main line serving your area may be restored, allowing nearby homes to regain power, while a damaged transformer or service line is still preventing power from reaching your home. 
• Your neighbors may be served by a different circuit, even if their homes are close by. 
• Crews may need to complete additional safety repairs before re-energizing your specific line. 
• In some cases, power may be restored to most of a neighborhood, leaving only a few homes without service due to localized damage. 

Please know that crews haven’t skipped your home — they’re working through the system safely and methodically. If your outage is not showing up on our outage map, please report it (or report it again if you have already). This will help our crews identify remaining localized issues and restore service as quickly as possible.  

We do not prioritize who is restored – we prioritize what is restored. While we do prioritize critical infrastructure like hospitals, most of our restoration efforts follow the flow of electricity, which means restoring big problems before smaller problems. Typically, that means repairing transmission and substations, then main lines, and so on and so forth. The lines running directly from the transformer to the meter on your house are usually the last to receive attention. If we were to work in reverse, and start with fixing the problems at your house, it likely wouldn’t make a difference if there are problems “above” your house, i.e., with the main feeder, the substation, etc. – you would still be out of power. This method means restoring the greatest number of people as quickly as possible. This also means that power may be restored to most of an area or neighborhood, leaving only a few homes without service due to more localized damage. 

We do not prioritize who is restored, but we do keep a list of those members who depend on life-support equipment that is electrically powered. In a large-scale event like this, it’s rare that we can prioritize restoration efforts in this way, but when we can, we give these residences priority when services are reconnected. However, if you must have power, the Co-op suggests that you have a standby generator available as a precautionary measure (learn more about safe standby generator procedures here).  

No. Power outages are inevitable due to the extreme weather conditions we experience in Northwest Montana. Individual damages incurred by “Acts of Nature” aren’t covered by our insurance, which is another reason we encourage members to have plans in place to keep themselves (and their personal property) safe in case of power outages. 

Your Co-op’s dispatch center is staffed 24/7, 365 days per year, to respond to power outages. Dispatch’s top priority is to assign crews and coordinate outage restoration efforts in the quickest and safest manner possible. When time allows, dispatchers also answer the outage phone line. When time doesn’t allow, outage phone calls are moved into an automated phone system in order to collect information with maximum efficiency and accuracy. 

If your outage is not showing up on our outage map, please report it (or report it again if you already have). This will help our crews identify remaining localized issues and restore service as quickly as possible. Your Co-op will work around the clock to restore your power as quickly as possible.

As of December 20, 2025, the outage map is up to date and accurately reflects all known outage locations. If your outage is not reflected on the outage map, please report it.

Outage text alerts are designed to keep you informed, but during major, widespread outage events, they may be delayed or not always match what you’re seeing in real time. When a large number of outages happen at once, our notification system can be overwhelmed by the sheer volume of incoming information. Additionally, outage text alerts are generated automatically based on system updates as crews restore parts of the electric system. During complex restorations, power is often restored in stages, and those stages don’t always align perfectly with individual homes or meters. 

For example, a main power line or substation may be re-energized, triggering a “restored” alert, even though downstream equipment still needs repairs. Or, crews may temporarily restore power to test the system, then shut it back off to safely complete additional work.  

We understand how important timely information is, especially during extended outages. While text alerts are a helpful tool, they may not always reflect real-time conditions during major events. We encourage members to use multiple sources — including our website and social media, or checking with neighbors if you aren’t at your home — for the most complete picture during widespread outages. 

As of December 20, 2025, the outage map is up to date and accurately reflects all known outage locations. If your outage is not reflected on the outage map, please report it.

While our outage map is a valuable tool, it’s not a perfect one. During large, widespread outages, the outage map may not always reflect the most up to date information. This can understandably be frustrating, especially when you’re trying to track how long you’ve been without electricity.  

When severe weather or system-wide events cause many outages at once, our crews and systems are focused first on safely assessing damage and restoring power rather than making map updates. Outage information may be delayed or entered or updated in batches as time allows. Sometimes when portions of outages are restored, the remaining smaller outages may show a later start time even though you’ve been without power longer. A few important things to know: 

• Your place in the restoration process is not affected by the outage start time shown on the map. 
• Crews prioritize restorations based on safety, the number of members affected, and critical infrastructure — not map timestamps. 
• The outage map is a helpful tool, but during major events it may lag behind real-time conditions.