If you look up at a utility pole, you will see several pieces of equipment—insulators, transformers, cut-outs and, of course, the wires themselves. One unique-looking device you may see, especially if you live in a NYSEG service area, is called a trip saver. In New York, we have installed nearly 150 trip saver devices across our electric distribution system to reduce service interruptions to customers’ homes and businesses.

A trip saver is a device with advanced technology that replaces the standard fuses found on our system. When an outage occurs due to temporary faults caused by storms, wildlife or tree damage, the trip saver can significantly reduce the duration of the outage. A fault is when something disrupts the normal flow of power on the electrical grid. A fault could be caused by a tree branch, an animal coming in contact with the line, a pole breaking or other types of hazards.

Usually, when a fault occurs, a fuse detects the fault and “opens” the line to isolate the problem. This open line causes homes and businesses on that line to lose power and—more importantly—prevents the fault from expanding and causing additional outages or damage like fires or explosions. Often times, that power interruption requires a utility line crew to be dispatched to the scene to inspect the problem, make necessary repairs and manually close (restore) the line.

When using a trip saver in place of the fuse, the device can detect a fault and will “blink” the line to determine if the fault is permanent or temporary. If the fault is temporary, such as a tree branch coming in contact with a line temporarily but not damaging the line, the trip saver will automatically restore the line and the power to your home. Customers on that line will experience a momentary (very short) outage (lights will flicker off and back on) instead of a longer outage. Since the trip saver device is automatic, it also means there will be no more waiting for a crew to arrive on the scene. The trip saver device does some of the detective and restoration work for us.

Trip savers are helpful in minimizing some long-duration outages, but they still will cause a momentary interruption (temporarily power off and then back on). It is always important to protect sensitive electronic equipment in your home such as televisions, computers and microwaves by using surge protectors. Check your equipment user manuals to determine what protections are either built into the equipment or steps you should take.

If you experience a very short power interruption, know that it could be your trip saver working as it is designed. While we strive to make our system more reliable and reduce outages, we also know that there is the potential for hazards to still cause interruptions and outages on the electric grid. Trip savers are another tool we are using to help minimize the duration of these interruptions.

If someone in your home depends on life-sustaining equipment powered by electricity, call us now at 1.800.572.1111. Customers may be enrolled in a critical customer program or provided specific advice on preparing for power interruptions. Be sure also to have a backup evacuation plan.