Am I in HWE service territory?
It depends solely on where you live.  In 1979, Ohio legislature passed an electric territorial act that established electric territory to investor-owned utilities and electric cooperatives.  So, we can only build lines to specific areas that have been pre-determined.  The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) has an interactive map showing which areas are served by each area utility.  To view the PUCO's map, click here.

How much will it cost to transfer HWE service into my name?
If you are going to buy the property, there are no fees. If you plan to rent the property, we calculate a deposit based on the past usage of the property.

What steps do I need to take to connect service if I am building a new home?
If you are in the process of or planning to build a new home, we ask you to contact us immediately. Installing your new electric service takes time, and you may even need to meet with our engineering department on site to discuss specifics. Doing so can help advise the new home builder with budgeting costs. So that we may better serve you with your electrical needs, when requesting electric service please provide vital information such as owner's name, mailing address, property location including legal description (subdivision, block/lot number), physical address and electrician's name. To see a temporary service spec sheet (required by HWE) that will assist you to do the work on your own, or your builder, click here. In addition, the following information will be required:

• HWE will figure costs of primary and/or secondary and prepare an estimate for new service after meeting in the field with an engineering representative.
• Upon receiving the signed application and fees, HWE also needs a copy of the building permit and any signed right-of-way easements that may be required.
• Line construction and/or temporary construction will be scheduled upon receipt of the contracts, fees, building permit and easements.
• Meter location must be approved by HWE before meter socket will be issued or permanent service connected.

How do I obtain my underground locate number?
HWE is a member of OUPS (Ohio Utilities Protection Service), and you must contact them: 811 (or 800-362-2764).

What causes momentary power outages, such as blinking lights?

Many things:  animals, vehicle accidents, lightning strikes, trees, high winds, or equipment failures on the electric system.  Due to the wide variety of unpredictable and uncontrollable causes that create momentary outages, no electric utility can completely prevent them.  Because we realize they are an inconvenience, we work to limit them as much as possible.

What exactly happens on Hancock-Wood's end when the lights blink?

Our system is designed to sense an unstable condition on a power line:  a tree, animal, or weather. When there is a disturbance on the line, electricity is automatically interrupted by a device called a recloser.  A recloser operates in a similar manner to fuses or circuit breakers in your home.  However, a recloser will instantly close the circuit to restore power.  Occasionally, if a problem still exists on the power line, the recloser will operate again, thus creating blinking lights.

However, if a problem still exists after the last recloser attempt, it will stay open resulting in a loss of power until repairs are made.  Should a long-term outage occur, please contact us.

Using reclosers and other devices actually increases our overall service reliability.  Their operation means our system is operating as it was designed, protecting the public from hazards and minimizing extended power outages.

Do momentary power interruptions damage equipment?

Recloser operations do not damage equipment; a recloser can be compared to a light switch in your home -- it turns the power off and on.  However, lightning striking electric lines or similar faults that cause a recloser to operate could damage your equipment.