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For two weekends in a row, ²»Á¼ÈËÑо¿Ëù and surrounding states were hit with high winds and storms during the weekends of March 24 and March 31. Both spring storms resulted in widespread power outages and created dangerous work conditions for ²»Á¼ÈËÑо¿Ëù electric cooperatives’ lineworker crews who worked day and night to restore power.Ìý

Nearly all ²»Á¼ÈËÑо¿Ëù co-ops experienced power outages. During the first weekend storm, the hardest-hit ²»Á¼ÈËÑо¿Ëù and West Virginia co-ops included Carroll Electric Cooperative, Harrison Rural Electric Cooperative, Holmes-Wayne Electric Cooperative, South Central Power Company, and Washington Electric Cooperative. During the second weekend storm, the hardest-hit ²»Á¼ÈËÑо¿Ëù co-ops included Midwest Electric, Mid-²»Á¼ÈËÑо¿Ëù Energy, North Central Electric Cooperative, Tricounty Rural Electric Cooperative, and Carroll Electric Cooperative. During the second weekend, Midwest Electric and Mid-²»Á¼ÈËÑо¿Ëù Energy Cooperative’s distribution systems were hit by a confirmed tornado, causing significant damage to the region. There was also significant damage to IOU transmission systems with many broken poles, leaving conductor on top of various cooperative distribution systems.

Both weekends, ²»Á¼ÈËÑо¿Ëù co-ops received an outpouring of lineworker mutual aid from other co-ops in the state and nearby states. The following ²»Á¼ÈËÑо¿Ëù co-ops welcomed mutual aid crews from the co-ops listed beneath their names:Ìý

Carroll Electric CooperativeÌý

• Weekend 1:
  • Darke Rural Electric Cooperative – 2 lineworkers
  • Rappahannock Electric Cooperative (VA) – 6 lineworkers
• Weekend 2:
  • Frontier Power Company – 2 lineworkers
  • North Central Electric Cooperative – 4 lineworkers
  • Lorain-Medina Electric Cooperative – 4 lineworkers

Harrison Rural Electric Cooperative (WV)

• Rappahannock Electric Cooperative (VA) – 4 lineworkers

Holmes-Wayne Electric Cooperative

• Weekend 1:
  • Logan County Electric Cooperative – 2 lineworkers
  • Midwest Electric – 2 lineworkers
  • North Central Electric Cooperative – 8 lineworkers
• Weekend 2:
  • Butler Rural Electric Cooperative – 2 lineworkers

Midwest Electric

• Hancock-Wood Electric Cooperative – 6 lineworkers
• Logan County Electric Cooperative – 5 lineworkers
• Darke Rural Electric Cooperative – 2 lineworkers
• Pioneer Rural Electric Cooperative – 6 lineworkers

South Central Power Company

• Butler Rural Electric Cooperative – 2 lineworkers
• Mid-²»Á¼ÈËÑо¿Ëù Energy Cooperative –Ìý2 lineworkers
• North Central Electric Cooperative –Ìý2 lineworkers

Washington Electric Cooperative

• Hancock-Wood Electric Cooperative – 4 lineworkers
• Johnson County REMC (IN) –Ìý2 lineworkers
• Southern Indiana Power –Ìý2 lineworkers
• Whitewater Valley REMC (IN) –Ìý2 lineworkers

Power reliability for electric cooperative member-owners is a top priority for all ²»Á¼ÈËÑо¿Ëù co-ops and the non-stop restoration efforts and mutual aid support is yet another example of that commitment and incredible cooperation among cooperatives. Thank you to those co-ops and lineworkers who have worked tirelessly to restore power to members over the last two weeks.Ìý