Kansas City Power & Light Company  

Kansas City Power & Light Company

Severe Weather Can Be Tough on Electrical SystemsWe prepare year-round to help get your power back on as safely and quickly as possible after a severe weather event. Here are some of the reasons severe weather can cause outages:High Winds. High winds can result in tree branches and limbs making contact with power lines.Freezing Rain. Ice accumulates and covers power lines, causing them to sag and break. (Never attempt or shake ice off lines. They are energized and highly dangerous.)Poor Driving Conditions. When roads are icy, snow-covered, wet or slick, it can create dangerous driving conditions. Resulting accidents could damage electrical equipment, such as poles. Weather Accounts for Most Power OutagesMore than 70% of power outages are weather-related, including storms, high winds, lightning and ice. But they aren't the only causes; outages can happen at any time of the year. Animals gnawing into and making contact with wires, car accidents and human error can also cause outages. Damage from weakened trees can result in a loss of power weeks after a severe-weather event. Occasionally, shorter outage periods are necessary to accommodate installation efforts for other providers, including high-speed internet. Restoration Process: Learn More about How Power is RestoredEver wonder why your neighbor’s lights are on while you’re still waiting? Restoring power after an outage is a complex process. Our job is to get electricity to the largest number of people in the shortest amount of time. KCP&L moves electricity to you through a grid that doesn't always follow the same path as city streets. That means power sometimes returns in a different order than you’d expect.