During power outages, it's helpful to know how crews restore your service. This quick video explains the process and steps of power restoration. Video courtesy Great River Energy for its 28-member cooperatives.
To prevent huge outages, the distribution grid uses backup routes to supply us, consumers, with energy. System operators can reroute the power supply if one distribution line is damaged or affected by an accident. At least it works this way here in Europe. Some rural areas have only one power line route so they may experience longer outages than urban users where backup routes of power lines and power distribution infrastructure are built.