Public power utility crews deployed to parts of the country that were expected to be impacted by Winter Storm Fern.
“More than 200 million people in 35 states are projected to be in the path of Winter Storm Fern, which will begin depositing heavy snow and damaging ice on a swath of more than 2,000 miles of land beginning Friday through Monday,” said Amy Zubaly, Executive Director, Florida Municipal Electric Association, on Jan. 22.
“This potentially historic winter storm is expected to cause mass disruption, including widespread and possible long-lasting power outages, particularly from anticipated ice accumulations in parts of the South.”
“As Florida’s mutual aid coordinator, the Florida Municipal Electric Association has maintained communication throughout the week with our nationwide network of public power utilities and the American Public Power Association to offer our assistance,” Zubaly noted.
As of right now, more than 185 personnel from 15 Florida public power utilities, both large and small and from all corners of the state, were scheduled to deploy Jan. 23 and Saturday to states in the Southeast facing potentially significant impacts, she said on Jan. 22.
“At this time, six FMEA member utilities will head to four different South Carolina public power utilities, while crews from nine Florida public power utilities are scheduled to deploy to eight communities served by public power in Georgia. Florida’s mutual aid crews will assist the South Carolina and Georgia utilities with power restoration efforts in areas impacted by the winter storm.”
As with all severe weather events, “as the path of projected forecast impacts changes, utility crews may be deployed to assist with power restoration in other impacted areas.”
This is Florida's largest cold-weather mutual aid deployment to neighboring states in recent years, Zubaly said.
“Mutual aid agreements enable electric utilities to call on each other for skilled emergency workers and supplies. Public power utilities across the country benefit from the strong network of mutual aid partners through the American Public Power Association. These connections have created a reliable system where member utilities both request and offer assistance when there’s a need. FMEA is proud to serve as the mutual aid coordinator for Florida’s 33 public power utilities.”
Crews from Florida public power utility JEA on the morning on Jan. 23 deployed to Myrtle Beach, S.C., ahead of the storm.
JEA crews will be prepared to assist Santee Cooper, South Carolina’s public power utility, in restoring power to areas experiencing outages. The crews departed in a convoy of trucks from JEA’s Southside and Westside service centers, including 37 electric crew members and three fleet support personnel.
“We are honored to assist a neighboring community when they need us most,” JEA Managing Director and CEO Vickie Cavey said. “This is what it means to be part of a national network of public power utilities - working together to restore power and support recovery.”
Kissimmee Utility Authority crews deployed to Oxford, Georgia the morning of Jan. 23 to assist with restoring power due to impending severe weather from Winter Storm Fern. The crews departed Kissimmee just after 6:00 a.m.
As part of KUA’s mutual-aid agreement with utilities across the nation, the utility sent 12 linemen, a mechanic, and a convoy of vehicles to Oxford to assist with anticipated power outages.
The crews who traveled from KUA include Luis Santiago, Willie Simmons, Kevon McKinsey, Danny Kelly, Karl Glass, Chad Acree, Amaurys Gonzalez, Chase Fuller, Gage Howard, Steffon Radcliff, Parker Wells, Kyle Memis, and Martin Nielsen.
Nebraska’s Lincoln Electric System on Jan. 23 said it was deploying staff and vehicles to assist utilities in North Carolina with anticipated power restoration efforts ahead of Winter Storm Fern.
Two LES line crews — 12 employees in total — were set to depart on Jan. 23 to travel to Shelby, North Carolina.
“By leaving ahead of the storm, the crews can travel under safer conditions and be positioned to start restoration work as soon as weather allows. Utilities in the storm's projected path are staging workers and equipment and coordinating plans with state and local officials,” LES noted.
"Our crews train year-round to be ready for situations like this," said Paul Crist, LES vice president of Energy Delivery. "Traveling ahead of the storm gives us the best chance to reach the area safely and begin restoration work as soon as conditions allow. When people are facing severe weather and potential outages, every minute matters."
The American Public Power Association is helping to coordinate mutual aid support across the region.
As a member of APPA's mutual aid network, LES is reimbursed for all costs associated with sending crews, vehicles and equipment — ensuring the support does not impact local electric rates.
LES noted that it regularly responds when fellow utilities experience widespread outages that require additional crews. Last March, LES assisted neighboring Nebraska utilities following winter storms.
In August, LES received mutual aid when an early morning storm caused the third-largest outage in LES history, affecting more than 38,000 customers.
"Public power is built on the principle of neighbors helping neighbors, near and far," added Crist. "When a community is facing dangerous weather and widespread outages, we step up — just as others have stepped up for us. We're proud to send our crews where they're needed and grateful for their willingness to serve."
