With Winter Storm Fern forecast to bring extreme cold, heavy snow, and damaging ice from the Southwest through the Mid-Atlantic, extending into the Northeast, public power utilities, investor-owned electric companies and electric cooperatives have been coordinating closely to ensure the industry is prepared to safely restore power as quickly as possible for any impacted communities.
More than 50,000 workers from at least 37 states and the District of Columbia are being strategically prepositioned to minimize the time needed to begin damage assessment and recovery efforts once it is safe to do so, a Jan. 23 news release from the American Public Power Association, the Edison Electric Institute and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association said.
“Winter storms can create unique challenges, including treacherous roads and fallen trees and branches as ice accumulates. It is essential that customers stay off the roads to let local public works teams and industry crews clear streets. The faster roads are cleared, the faster damage assessments can get underway,” the news release said.
“The public power community is working closely with our government and industry partners to prepare for this historic storm,” said Scott Corwin, President and CEO of the American Public Power Association (APPA). “Mutual aid crews and equipment are being pre-staged, so our member utilities are ready to restore power as quickly and as safely as possible.”
Power restoration is a team effort, and strong industry-government coordination and cross-sector collaboration are essential.
The CEO-led Electricity Subsector Coordinating Council stood up its first call the morning of Jan. 23 to ensure that clear communication channels are open should impacted entities have unmet needs.
Senior officials from the Department of Energy, Department of Homeland Security, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and National Energy Dominance Council joined CEOs from all segments of the electric power industry on the call. ESCC coordination will continue throughout the event to help ensure an efficient restoration.
“America’s lineworkers and support teams are staged and ready to work around the clock to safely restore power in harsh winter conditions and serve customers,” said Drew Maloney, President and CEO of the Edison Electric Institute. “Industry and government leaders are aligned to support a safe and efficient restoration across our nation.”
Electric service providers in the path of Fern have activated their emergency response plans and are strategically prepositioning crews, equipment, and resources to be ready to begin damage assessment and response efforts as soon as it is safe to do so.
“Electric cooperatives are well-versed in safely responding to mother nature’s worst and have been preparing for this winter storms for day,” said Jim Matheson, CEO of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. “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.”
Customer and restoration worker safety is the industry’s top priority. Customers should never use portable generators or grills indoors or in other enclosed areas where lethal fumes can accumulate. Customers also are reminded to remain vigilant against scams. Electricity providers will never demand cash or app payments for restoration services, the news release noted.
“During an energy emergency, reliability is a safety issue, not a policy debate, and when temperatures drop, the electric system has to perform,” said U.S. Department of Energy Deputy Secretary James P. Danly. “The Department’s coordination with the ESCC, utilities, and federal partners is essential during Winter Storm Fern to deploy every available resource—including more than 35 gigawatts of backup generation—to keep the lights on, protect American families, keep homes heated, and hospitals running and accelerate restoration. Reliability and affordability are the standard, not the exception.”
