JPECC power outage caused by drone caught in power lines

A power outage in the Jackson Purchase Energy system on Wednesday evening was caused by a drone.

JPECC said that 362 customers lost power for a brief time after what was described as an "agricultural drone" got caught in some power lines.

The cooperative said that flying drones in the vicinity of overhead lines is regulated and dangerous. They urge flyers to be aware of restrictions and guidelines for safety.

They recommend everyone:

• Stay away from any downed power lines or damaged electrical equipment. 

• Do not approach or attempt to retrieve the drone. Power lines may still be energized and extremely dangerous. 

• If you see smoke, sparks, or fire, call 911 immediately. 

JPECC thanked their members and also thanked their crew for getting power back on as quickly as possible.