Last Updated: Jan. 24, 1:30 p.m.
Electric cooperatives in Texas and nearby states were working to restore thousands of power outages Saturday as a massive winter storm began an onslaught of heavy snow, ice and frigid temperatures across more than 2,000 miles from New Mexico to New England this weekend and beyond.
Co-ops in the projected path of Winter Storm Fern have been gearing up for the brutal weather, and mutual aid crews from co-ops in states outside the storm’s main path were already beginning to arrive Saturday.
“Electric cooperatives are well-versed in safely responding to Mother Nature’s worst and have been preparing for this winter storm for days,” said NRECA CEO Jim Matheson.
“Electric co-ops have been coordinating ahead of the storm to ensure we can respond to potential power outages as quickly and safely as possible, drawing on crews from unaffected areas if needed. We urge consumers to take the storm seriously and prepare for the possibility of extended power outages.”
Co-ops said they are worried most about ice coating power lines and toppling tree limbs onto lines.
“Ice accumulation continues to be the main concern, as ice forming on tree limbs and power lines can cause catastrophic damage to the distribution system,” Georgia Electric Membership Corp. said as the storm headed its way.
Texas had the most outages in the nation as of midday Saturday, with about 50,000 reported across all types of electric utilities, according to poweroutage.us.
Ice accumulation on the lines caused outages to more than 7,300 meters at Deep East Texas Electric Cooperative Saturday. The San Augustine-based co-op serves about 45,000 meters.
“Crews are working and will continue to work as quickly as they safely can,” the co-op said on Facebook.
Bowie-Cass Electric Cooperative in Douglassville reported outages at more than 6,000 of its nearly 40,000 meters as of midday.
“There are several reports of fallen trees/limbs across the territory, along with other damage,” the co-op said on its website. “Roads and other surfaces are icy and hazardous, which may impact travel times and outage location access.
“Our crews are working as quickly and safely as possible to restore power to all affected members, but please keep in mind that it will take time due to weather conditions. Freezing rain is expected to continue throughout the day with temperatures below zero and bitter cold wind.”
Rusk County Electric Cooperative in Henderson reported that more than 6,500 of its nearly 24,000 consumer-members were without power.
“Trees are heavy, lines are stressed, and crews are moving as safely and quickly as possible to restore power,” the co-op said Saturday afternoon on Facebook.
Panola-Harrison Electric Cooperative in Marshall reported that about 2,100 of its nearly 21,000 members were without power as of early afternoon. The co-op serves both Texas and Louisiana.
“As a reminder, due to hazardous road conditions and working conditions, it will take crews longer than usual to make repairs,” the co-op said on its website.
In New Mexico, Cloudcroft-based Otero County Electric Cooperative reported about 6,000 of its 21,000 members without power as of about 12:30 p.m.
Co-ops throughout the storm’s projected path were gearing up for extended power outages.
“Based on weather predictions, Rappahannock Electric Cooperative is preparing for a multi-day outage event,” said Casey Hollins, the Fredericksburg, Virgina-based co-op’s managing director for communications and public relations. “Wet snow and ice add weight to power lines, causing them to break, and weigh down trees and limbs, which can lead to power outages.”
Florida-based SECO Energy was among the co-ops rushing to send mutual aid crews to help co-ops in neighboring states.
The Sumterville-based co-op sent a nine-member crew to South Carolina on Saturday to help with power restoration efforts in northern South Carolina and Georgia.
“Mutual aid is a cornerstone of the electric cooperative network,” said Kathy Judkins, the co-op’s vice president of communications, community and member experiences. “We are proud to support our fellow cooperatives and the communities they serve during severe weather events.”