Author - "Hawk" from Wisconsin
Submitted By -15 degrees below and a handshake
The morning began as a 0400 phone call. Our dispatcher said " we have
one customer out of power, call me when you're in the truck and we'll
get you the address". I struggled to feel wide awake as I dressed and
then got the truck started and was under way. When I called dispatch and
got the address I knew that it was a very rugged piece of single phase
line, but luckily has only one customer on it. I followed the two wheel
tracks down a long remote road leading to the old farm thinking that
this would not be a good time to get stuck in the one foot plus snow on
the ground. I finally arrived at the farmhouse to find ice had collapsed
the barn and destroyed over half of the farmyard wiring. After
determining that the transformer was dead I now had another problem, the
single phase line was dead. The customer would need an electrician to
make repairs on his side of the meter so I helped him with finding one.
He explained that he lives 300 miles to the south and had arrived to
find no power and no heat in the house at 15 degrees below zero. He
started a fire in his wood stove and called for help. It was still
dark at this time and I had to start patrolling on foot up over a wooded
ridge and along some cornfields. Yes, its lonely out there in the dark
by yourself, but it is the true meaning of quiet time. I was fortunate
this time as the snow had thawed a week before and was solid enough to
walk on. As the first glimmers of light began to show in the east I
reinstalled the line fuse and it held as there was not a problem on the
line. It probably had been out for quite awhile as this old farm is just
used as a cabin for infrequent visits. I went back to the farm and
assisted the customer in securing an electrician for repairs on his side
of the meter. Things came together well as the electrician completed his
work and I put the farm back in service. The owner of the farm
approached me with an outstretched hand thanking me for restoring his
power and for going the extra mile to help him. As I looked at his
smile, I realized this is what I love to do and I wouldn't be anywhere
else.
"Hawk" from Wisconsin