Author: Joe Arnold

Hurricane Dorian update | Kentucky co-op crews heading to Georgia

Hurricane Dorian update | Kentucky co-op crews heading to Georgia

(September 2, 2019) – As Georgia evacuates six coastal counties ahead of Hurricane Dorian, Kentucky co-op crews are heading that way.

More than 100 lineworkers from at least 13 electric cooperatives in Kentucky are preparing to assist sister co-ops restore power after the hurricane passes. Strong winds, heavy rain and flooding are expected in coastal Georgia where Governor Brian Kemp has declared a state of emergency for 12 southeast Georgia counties.

Citing the magnitude of Dorian as an “historic” storm, Kemp warns of downed trees, power lines, debris and flooding. Storm surge is a major threat to the Georgia coastline as Dorian moves north. The National Hurricane Center predicts it could reach 4 to 7 feet by Tuesday night into Wednesday morning.

The first Kentucky crews to deploy are South Kentucky RECC and Nolin RECC. Both co-ops will help restore power at Satilla REMC in Georgia. Fourteen lineworkers from South Kentucky RECC began their drive on Sunday, while 10 men left Nolin RECC on Monday morning.

The mutual aid response is coordinated by Kentucky Electric Cooperatives. The statewide association of Kentucky’s 26 electric co-ops participates in daily conference calls with similar co-op organizations in southeastern states to assess potential needs and pair recipient co-ops with available crews and equipment from Kentucky. In addition, Kentucky co-ops have also released dozens of construction and right-of-way contract crews to respond to Hurricane Dorian.

On Tuesday morning, about 25 Kentucky co-op lineworkers will deploy to Excelsior EMC in Georgia. Another 50 Kentucky co-op lineworkers will also deploy on Tuesday morning to Okefenoke REMC, where an additional 8 Kentucky linemen are set to join them on Wednesday.

The Kentucky electric cooperatives with crews assigned to Dorian recovery are Clark Energy, Cumberland Valley, Farmers RECC, Fleming Mason Energy, Jackson Energy, Kenergy, Meade County RECC, Nolin RECC, Owen Electric, Salt River Electric, Shelby Energy, South Kentucky RECC and Warren RECC. Other co-ops may also send crews, yet any other assignments are pending specific requests from affected co-ops.

Recent mutual aid deployments by Kentucky’s electric cooperatives include:

October 2018 – More than 100 Kentucky lineworkers help Hurricane Michael recovery efforts in Georgia and Virginia.

March 2018 – 81 Kentucky lineworkers helped restore power in Virginia after Winter Storm Riley.

September 2017 – 131 Kentucky co-op workers helped restore power in Georgia after Hurricane Irma.

October 2016 – The largest mutual aid deployment in Kentucky co-op history came in 2016 when 143 lineworkers responded to Hurricane Matthew.

The top priority of each local Kentucky co-op is service to its own consumer-members. Before committing resources to mutual aid requests, each co-op ensures it has ample crews available for all local needs, including routine maintenance and emergencies.

“We are so proud of these co-op crews,” said Chris Perry, president and CEO of Kentucky Electric Cooperatives. “These linemen have stepped up to help without even knowing exactly where they will end up. But for as unpredictable as Hurricane Dorian’s path has been, our safety team will be deliberate and careful as these crews are deployed.”

“Cooperation among cooperatives is one of our guiding principles,” said Clarence Greene, Safety and Loss Prevention Director at Kentucky Electric Cooperatives. “It’s long hours in challenging conditions, but lineworkers are wired to help people, and mutual aid deployments also provide invaluable training opportunities so these crews will be better prepared to respond to storm damage when it happens here at home.”

In addition, Louisville-based United Utility Supply Cooperative is responding to Dorian by implementing its storm emergency plan and providing round-the-clock support to meet the material needs of affected co-ops. UUS has continued to make pre-storm deliveries to cooperatives in the region and is prepared to meet their needs once storm assessments are complete. UUS has also reached out to other cooperatively owned material suppliers with assurance it stands ready to assist, if needed.

Because the national network of transmission and distribution infrastructure owned by electric cooperatives has been built to federal standards, line crews from any co-op in America can arrive on the scene ready to provide emergency support, secure in their knowledge of the system’s engineering.

Kentucky co-ops readying mutual aid response to Hurricane Dorian

Kentucky co-ops readying mutual aid response to Hurricane Dorian

Co-ops identify available crews as statewide association coordinates response

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (August 30, 2019) – As forecasters predict that Hurricane Dorian will strengthen to a major hurricane as it approaches the east coast of Florida and southern Georgia, Kentucky’s electric cooperatives are preparing to assist in recovery efforts if called upon by sister co-ops in the path of the hurricane.

The mutual aid response is coordinated by Kentucky Electric Cooperatives. The statewide association of Kentucky’s 26 electric co-ops participates in daily conference calls with similar co-op organizations in southeastern states to assess potential needs and pair recipient co-ops with available crews and equipment from Kentucky.

In addition, Kentucky co-ops have also released dozens of construction and right-of-way contract crews to respond to Hurricane Dorian.

Recent mutual aid deployments by Kentucky’s electric cooperatives include:

October 2018 – More than 100 Kentucky lineworkers help Hurricane Michael recovery efforts in Georgia and Virginia.

March 2018 – 81 Kentucky lineworkers helped restore power in Virginia after Winter Storm Riley.

September 2017 – 131 Kentucky co-op workers helped restore power in Georgia after Hurricane Irma.

October 2016 – The largest mutual aid deployment in Kentucky co-op history came in 2016 when 143 lineworkers responded to Hurricane Matthew.

The top priority of each local Kentucky co-op is service to its own consumer-members.  Before committing resources to mutual aid requests, each co-op ensures it has ample crews available for all local needs, including routine maintenance and emergencies.

“Cooperation among cooperatives is one of our guiding principles,” said Clarence Greene, Safety and Loss Prevention Director at Kentucky Electric Cooperatives. “It’s long hours in challenging conditions, but lineworkers are wired to help people, and mutual aid deployments also provide invaluable training opportunities so these crews will be better prepared to respond to storm damage when it happens here at home.”

In addition, Louisville-based United Utility Supply Cooperative is readying supplies and has implemented its storm emergency plan, providing round-the-clock support to meet the material needs of co-ops affected by Hurricane Dorian. Today, UUS continues to make pre-storm deliveries to cooperatives in the region and is prepared to meet their needs once storm assessments are complete. UUS has also reached out to other cooperatively owned material suppliers with assurance it stands ready to assist, if needed.

Because the national network of transmission and distribution infrastructure owned by electric cooperatives has been built to federal standards, line crews from any co-op in America can arrive on the scene ready to provide emergency support, secure in their knowledge of the system’s engineering.

Kentucky’s electric cooperatives applaud passage of 2018 Farm Bill

Kentucky’s electric cooperatives applaud passage of 2018 Farm Bill

Co-ops thank legislators advocating for Kentucky’s rural communities

Louisville, Ky. (December 20, 2018) – Kentucky’s electric cooperatives applaud today’s signing of the 2018 Farm Bill by President Donald Trump which will advance the interests of rural America. Kentucky’s 26 electric cooperatives serve 1.5 million Kentuckians in 117 counties and are committed to improving the quality of life for their consumer-members, most of which live in rural portions of the state.

Kentucky Electric Cooperatives President and CEO Chris Perry expressed gratitude to the Members of Congress who advocated for Kentuckians in the Farm Bill, in particular Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Congressman James Comer who both served on the Farm Bill Conference Committee.

“We appreciate Leader McConnell and Congressman Comer tirelessly advocating for rural Kentuckians in the compromise Farm Bill,” Perry said. “The legislation signed by President Trump today includes strong rural development provisions that will allow co-ops to continue our mission, to keep rates affordable and operate as engines of economic development in rural areas that need it the most.”

The Farm Bill includes funding and loans for rural economic development, rural broadband deployment, renewable energy initiatives and home energy retrofits.

The bill also modifies guidelines of the escrow accounts co-ops maintain with the USDA’s Rural Utilities Service. Perry credited advocacy by McConnell and Comer for compromise language that creates a manageable transition to a different structure for this important program.

“Thanks to Leader McConnell and Congressman Comer, the Farm Bill includes compromise language to protect how co-ops interact with the Rural Utilities Service. This will help Kentucky co-ops keep rates affordable while continuing to invest in modernizing the electric grid,” Perry said.

Linemen show off skills at annual Rodeo

Linemen show off skills at annual Rodeo

Every day, lineworkers across Kentucky are out in remote areas of the state doing what it takes to keep the power flowing to more than 1.5 million people served by electric co-ops. Once a year, however, a select group of these lineworkers come together for two days of competition like no other, the Kentucky Lineman’s Rodeo.

On Sept. 13-14, 125 lineworkers representing 17 of Kentucky’s electric co-ops converged on the Murray-Calloway County Fairgrounds to compete in the 14th annual rodeo.

Click here for list of winners and scores

“It’s about teamwork, it’s about camaraderie and it’s about showing off the skills these linemen have learned,” says David Smart, president and CEO of West Kentucky Rural Electric, which hosted this year’s event.

Blue Grass Energy was the big winner, sweeping the overall individual journeymen category and taking first in the overall team category. Tim Hembree, a journeyman lineman from Blue Grass, placed in the top three in eight categories.

“The Kentucky’s Lineman’s Rodeo is an opportunity for linemen to demonstrate their commitment to safety while showcasing their skills,” says Mike Williams, president and CEO of Blue Grass Energy. “I’m very proud of the hard work and dedication to safety that not only our lineworkers, but all linemen demonstrated while participating in this event.”

The Lineman’s Rodeo was created by the Kentucky Association of Electric Cooperatives to promote safety for co-op linemen around the state. The training and skills of these linemen are part of the mission of Kentucky’s electric cooperatives, to provide a high level of electrical services at the lowest possible price through a local, consumer-owned form of business.

“Training for the rodeo has really helped our younger guys,” says Randy Meredith of Nolin RECC, which will host the 2019 rodeo. “They improved in safety and they improved in their technique. So, it was a real win, win situation.

Seven senior individuals, 36 individual journeymen and 36 apprentice lineworkers competed in these events: Capacitator De-Energize, Line De-Energize and Armor Rod & Tie. There were 31 teams from the 17 co-ops that competed in the OCR Changeout, Line Replacement and Underarm Disconnect competitions. Individuals and teams competed in the “Hurt man” competition, which focuses on following the correct procedures in the event someone needs to be rescued after coming into contact with a live wire.

Jason Isaacs, a lineman for Blue Grass who competed for the first time, says the experience was one he plans on repeating.

“It was nerve-racking, but it was a great experience,” he says. “With everyone watching, you just want to do good.”

 

UPDATE: Florence spares co-ops linked to Ky crews

UPDATE: Florence spares co-ops linked to Ky crews

Kentucky mutual aid crews back home

UPDATED September 16, 2018 – 3:00pm –Though tens of thousands of South Carolina homes and businesses remained without power on Sunday afternoon, Hurricane Florence largely spared the electric cooperative that had asked for help from sister co-ops in Kentucky.

As a result, Kentucky co-op crews that deployed on Saturday morning are back home, and other crews on standby are also not likely to be needed during this effort, according to Clarence Greene, Safety and Loss Prevention Director at the Kentucky Association of Electric Cooperatives.

19 Kentucky electric cooperatives had committed 160 lineworkers and released more than 150 right-of-way and construction contract workers to the mutual aid response. Crews are deployed only at the request of specific co-ops.

When Hurricane Florence made landfall on Friday, Berkeley Electric Cooperative in southeast South Carolina requested help from the Kentucky co-ops. Most of the power outages, however, have ultimately affected northeast South Carolina, territories where other mutual aid crews are responding.

Click here for an outage map of South Carolina electric cooperatives.

“We continue to pray for the safety of everyone affected by this storm, including the mutual aid crews who are working to help,” Greene said. “Though we have not been pressed into service this time, we are proud to be a part of an electric cooperative program whose members stand ready to help.”

Through a careful coordination of mutual aid from co-ops in 12 states across the Midwest and Southeast, crews were paired with co-ops in the storm’s path. On daily conference calls in the days leading up to and through landfall, safety teams from each state assessed optimal deployments.

In addition, United Utility Supply Cooperative also responded to Hurricane Florence needs. The Kentucky-based co-op implemented its storm emergency plan, providing round-the-clock support to meet the material needs of co-ops affected by Hurricane Florence. UUS made pre-storm deliveries to cooperatives in the Virginia, Maryland and Delaware areas and reached out to cooperatively owned material suppliers in South Carolina and North Carolina.

Kentucky co-op mutual aid deployments are coordinated by the Kentucky Association of Electric Cooperatives. The  deployments had shifted to South Carolina on Friday after co-ops who had originally asked for help in Virginia alerted KAEC that they no longer needed help.

The list of Kentucky electric cooperatives set to deploy lineworkers includes Blue Grass Energy, Clark Energy Cooperative, Cumberland Valley RECC, Farmers RECC, Fleming Mason Energy, Jackson Energy Cooperative, Jackson Purchase Energy Corporation, Kenergy Corp., Licking Valley RECC, Meade County RECC, Nolin RECC, Owen Electric Cooperative, Pennyrile Electric, Salt River Electric, Shelby Energy Cooperative, South Kentucky RECC, Warren RECC, and West Kentucky RECC.

In addition, Tri-County EMC, which serves both Kentucky and Tennessee co-op members, deployed crews to North Carolina.

The top priority of each local Kentucky co-op is service to its own consumer-members.  Before committing resources to mutual aid requests, each co-op ensures it has ample crews available for all local needs, including routine maintenance and emergencies.

One year ago, 131 Kentucky co-op workers helped restore power in Georgia after Hurricane Irma. The largest mutual aid deployment in Kentucky co-op history came in 2016 when 143 lineworkers responded to Hurricane Matthew.

Because the national network of transmission and distribution infrastructure owned by electric cooperatives has been built to federal standards, line crews from any co-op in America can arrive on the scene ready to provide emergency support, secure in their knowledge of the system’s engineering.