Power Blinks Explained: Why a Flicker Often Means the Grid Is Working
Fredericksburg, Va. — Most of us recognize a power blink when it happens. The lights flicker. The TV resets. The microwave clock starts flashing 12:00. It’s annoying and it’s easy to assume something is wrong.
Quite often though, a blink is nothing to worry about. Instead, it’s a sign the electric grid is doing what it was built to do. The behind-the-scenes reason is usually a piece of equipment called a recloser.
A recloser is a safety device on the power lines that works a lot like a fuse (or a circuit breaker). When something briefly contacts the line — like a tree limb, an animal or storm-related debris — the recloser can shut power off for a moment and then turn it back on to see if the problem cleared.
- If the problem was brief, your power comes right back on. That’s the blink.
- If the problem is still there, the recloser may try again.
- If the recloser still can’t clear the issue after a few tries, it will stay off to protect the system until crews can fix the cause.
Reclosers help keep small problems from turning into bigger outages. Without them, a brief contact with a line could shut off a larger section of the system for longer. With them, the system can quickly “check” the line and restore service if it’s safe to do so. Often, a blink just means the system prevented a longer outage.
What you can do
Most power blinks are brief, but they can occasionally interrupt electronics. Taking a few simple steps can help keep things running smoothly:
- Use a quality surge protector for computers, TVs and other sensitive devices.
- If you work from home, consider a small battery backup for your computer and internet equipment.
- If you rely on medical equipment, make sure you have a backup plan for short outages and longer outages.
Reclosers are one of the tools used to improve reliability. They’re part of REC’s broader efforts to reduce outage time and limit how many members are affected when something hits the system. Over time, upgrading and fine-tuning this equipment helps REC respond faster to everyday problems while keeping the system safer for the public and lineworkers.
About Rappahannock Electric Cooperative
Serving over 184,000 connections across portions of 22 Virginia counties, REC is a pillar in its communities, with over 18,000 miles of power lines extending from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the Chesapeake Bay. For more information about REC, please visit www.myrec.coop. Follow REC on Facebook, X, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.