What's New
Iowa's Electric Cooperatives Send Crews to South Dakota for Restoration Efforts
For more information contact:
Ann Foster
Director of Communications
Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives
Office: (515) 727-8945
Cell: (515) 229-6977
E-mail: afoster@iowarec.org
Iowa's Electric Cooperatives Send Crews to South Dakota for Restoration Efforts
Cooperatives will assist in Eastern South Dakota - hit by winter storm
Des Moines, Iowa, Nov. 29, 2005 � The Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives announced today that crews from Iowa's electric cooperatives are headed to South Dakota to assist with power restoration efforts following a major ice and winter storm that hit the area Monday. The crews will work to restore power in the eastern part of the state, which suffered major losses of electricity. It is the most widespread winter storm to hit the area in more than a decade.
At this time, about 87 linemen � from 29 Iowa cooperatives - will assist the South Dakota electric cooperatives impacted by the storm. At the time of departure, 19 of the states' 29 distribution cooperatives have been impacted by the storm, along with one transmission cooperative. At least 20,800 of the state's 90,000 rural electric cooperative members are without power. South Dakota cooperatives report more than 4,750 poles down from Gregory to Tabor in the southern part of the state up through Miller to Aberdeen and Milbank in the northern part of the state. Additionally, cooperatives report that more than 8,700 miles of line were impacted by the storm. This amount of line would extend in a straight line from New York City to San Diego, back to New York City and returning again to San Diego. Crews may be working in the area for five to ten days to assist with the restoration efforts.
Because the storm also impacted a transmission cooperative, even some consumers who have underground power lines are currently without power. Some cooperatives in the area report that 90-100 percent of their consumers are without power.
In total, about 120 linemen will assist in the restoration efforts. Crews from Nebraska and the western part of South Dakota are also assisting with restoration efforts.
In addition to rebuilding the power lines, the crews will also clean debris to ensure proper clearance of the lines is in place for the public's safety.
"This type of restoration effort is similar to what would happen in Iowa after a massive ice storm," says Dennis Corcoran, director of safety and loss control for the Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives (IAEC). Corcoran, who, along with his staff, are coordinating the logistics with each of the cooperative crews.
"A cooperative principle, which guides our daily business efforts, is commitment to community," Corcoran says. "Whether that community is 10 miles away, or in a neighboring state, our goal is work with each other to ensure member-consumers have power that is safe and reliable."
Iowa cooperatives currently participating in the restoration efforts include Allamakee-Clayton Electric Cooperative, Postville; Butler County REC, Allison; Calhoun County REC, Rockwell City; Consumers Energy, Marshalltown; Corn Belt Power Cooperative, Humboldt; Eastern Iowa Light and Power, Wilton; Farmers Electric Cooperative, Greenfield; Franklin REC, Hampton; Glidden REC, Glidden; Grundy County REC, Grundy Center, Guthrie County REC, Guthrie Center; Harrison County REC, Woodbine; Hawkeye REC, Cresco; Heartland Power Cooperative, Thompson/St. Ansgar; Humboldt County REC, Humboldt; Iowa Lakes Electric Cooperative, Estherville; Linn County REC, Marion; Lyon REC, Rock Rapids; Maquoketa Valley Electric Cooperative, Anamosa; Midland Power Cooperative, Jefferson; Nishnabotna Valley REC, Harlan; North West REC, Le Mars/Orange City; Northwest Iowa Power Cooperative, Le Mars; Osceola Electric Cooperative, Inc., Sibley; Prairie Energy Cooperative, Clarion/Garner; Southern Iowa Electric Cooperative, Bloomfield; Southwest Iowa REC, Stanton/Corning; T.I.P. REC, Brooklyn, and Woodbury County REC, Moville. Many of the remaining Iowa cooperatives may also be involved in restoration efforts as the day progresses.
In September, Iowa's electric cooperatives sent 14 crews � or about 35 linemen - to the Gulf Coast region to assist with restoration efforts in Mississippi following Hurricane Katrina.
The Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives, formed in 1942, is the Des Moines-based statewide association representing 37 distribution cooperatives in Iowa and six generation and transmission cooperatives serving more than 200,000 rural homes, farms and industries in all 99 counties. The IAEC provides legislative, regulatory, safety, communications and education and training programs and services to its members. The IAEC is also a Touchstone Energy partner - a national alliance of local, consumer-owned electric cooperatives. More than 600 Touchstone Energy cooperatives in 44 states are delivering energy and energy solutions to more than 17 million customers every day.
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Ann Foster
Director of Communications
Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives
Office: (515) 727-8945
Cell: (515) 229-6977
E-mail: afoster@iowarec.org
Iowa's Electric Cooperatives Send Crews to South Dakota for Restoration Efforts
Cooperatives will assist in Eastern South Dakota - hit by winter storm
Des Moines, Iowa, Nov. 29, 2005 � The Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives announced today that crews from Iowa's electric cooperatives are headed to South Dakota to assist with power restoration efforts following a major ice and winter storm that hit the area Monday. The crews will work to restore power in the eastern part of the state, which suffered major losses of electricity. It is the most widespread winter storm to hit the area in more than a decade.
At this time, about 87 linemen � from 29 Iowa cooperatives - will assist the South Dakota electric cooperatives impacted by the storm. At the time of departure, 19 of the states' 29 distribution cooperatives have been impacted by the storm, along with one transmission cooperative. At least 20,800 of the state's 90,000 rural electric cooperative members are without power. South Dakota cooperatives report more than 4,750 poles down from Gregory to Tabor in the southern part of the state up through Miller to Aberdeen and Milbank in the northern part of the state. Additionally, cooperatives report that more than 8,700 miles of line were impacted by the storm. This amount of line would extend in a straight line from New York City to San Diego, back to New York City and returning again to San Diego. Crews may be working in the area for five to ten days to assist with the restoration efforts.
Because the storm also impacted a transmission cooperative, even some consumers who have underground power lines are currently without power. Some cooperatives in the area report that 90-100 percent of their consumers are without power.
In total, about 120 linemen will assist in the restoration efforts. Crews from Nebraska and the western part of South Dakota are also assisting with restoration efforts.
In addition to rebuilding the power lines, the crews will also clean debris to ensure proper clearance of the lines is in place for the public's safety.
"This type of restoration effort is similar to what would happen in Iowa after a massive ice storm," says Dennis Corcoran, director of safety and loss control for the Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives (IAEC). Corcoran, who, along with his staff, are coordinating the logistics with each of the cooperative crews.
"A cooperative principle, which guides our daily business efforts, is commitment to community," Corcoran says. "Whether that community is 10 miles away, or in a neighboring state, our goal is work with each other to ensure member-consumers have power that is safe and reliable."
Iowa cooperatives currently participating in the restoration efforts include Allamakee-Clayton Electric Cooperative, Postville; Butler County REC, Allison; Calhoun County REC, Rockwell City; Consumers Energy, Marshalltown; Corn Belt Power Cooperative, Humboldt; Eastern Iowa Light and Power, Wilton; Farmers Electric Cooperative, Greenfield; Franklin REC, Hampton; Glidden REC, Glidden; Grundy County REC, Grundy Center, Guthrie County REC, Guthrie Center; Harrison County REC, Woodbine; Hawkeye REC, Cresco; Heartland Power Cooperative, Thompson/St. Ansgar; Humboldt County REC, Humboldt; Iowa Lakes Electric Cooperative, Estherville; Linn County REC, Marion; Lyon REC, Rock Rapids; Maquoketa Valley Electric Cooperative, Anamosa; Midland Power Cooperative, Jefferson; Nishnabotna Valley REC, Harlan; North West REC, Le Mars/Orange City; Northwest Iowa Power Cooperative, Le Mars; Osceola Electric Cooperative, Inc., Sibley; Prairie Energy Cooperative, Clarion/Garner; Southern Iowa Electric Cooperative, Bloomfield; Southwest Iowa REC, Stanton/Corning; T.I.P. REC, Brooklyn, and Woodbury County REC, Moville. Many of the remaining Iowa cooperatives may also be involved in restoration efforts as the day progresses.
In September, Iowa's electric cooperatives sent 14 crews � or about 35 linemen - to the Gulf Coast region to assist with restoration efforts in Mississippi following Hurricane Katrina.
The Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives, formed in 1942, is the Des Moines-based statewide association representing 37 distribution cooperatives in Iowa and six generation and transmission cooperatives serving more than 200,000 rural homes, farms and industries in all 99 counties. The IAEC provides legislative, regulatory, safety, communications and education and training programs and services to its members. The IAEC is also a Touchstone Energy partner - a national alliance of local, consumer-owned electric cooperatives. More than 600 Touchstone Energy cooperatives in 44 states are delivering energy and energy solutions to more than 17 million customers every day.
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