CES Restores Power

Airman 1st Class Patrick Garrett, 28th Civil Engineer Squadron electrical systems apprentice, uses a switch stick to change circuits at a switch station on Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., Airmen from the 28th CES worked tirelessly to return power to the base after a storm caused two power outages Aug. 29 and 30. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman Alystria Maurer/Released)

28th CES restores power after multiple outages

Published Sept. 1, 2011
By By Tech. Sgt. Nathan Gallahan
28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs

ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. -- Electricians from the 28th Civil Engineer Squadron worked diligently to return Ellsworth Air Force Base's electrical grid back to normal operations after sporadic power outages hit the base Aug. 29 and 30.

"All indications point to water infiltration into our substation," said Maj. Chris Lance, 28th CES Operations Flight commander.

The first power outage hit around 4:30 p.m. Aug. 29, sending the 28th CES Electrical Section rushing to the substation to investigate the problem. The specialists were able to reroute all of the power through other circuits, restoring power by 11 p.m. The second outage hit the following morning, after the saving-circuit's breaker overloaded as lights and air conditioners turned on across the base. The electricians were once again able to work their magic and restore power ... but the underlying reasons for the outages are still under investigation.

"We will coordinate a full base power outage in the near future to investigate exactly what the problem is," Lance said. "It's kind of like a car, if you hear a strange noise while you're driving, you may know what it is, but until you pull it over and get under the hood, you can't be positive."