REC Brings In Extra Help To Speed Restoration
June 30, 2012
As of 7 p.m., approximately 38,000 Rappahannock Electric Cooperative (REC) members remain without power. Over 45 percent of those who lost power from the storm late Friday night have had service restored. A multiple day restoration effort is anticipated as a result of the destruction, extreme heat and the threat of additional damaging storms tonight. We encourage members to make the necessary arrangements during this difficult and uncomfortable time.
REC crews, contractors and additional assistance from other Cooperatives are working extended hours in record-breaking temperatures and tough conditions. Crews are on a rotating schedule to continue repairs through the overnight hours. REC expects to determine their estimated total restoration time by end of day Sunday.
“This storm caused excessive damage,” said Tim Martin, REC’s vice president of engineering and operations. “In addition to a large number of broken poles and cross arms, downed lines and damaged equipment have contributed to the widespread outages. Compared to last September’s Hurricane Irene that was concentrated in the Bowling Green District, this storm resulted in nearly 30,000 more outages and was reported in all 22 counties,” concluded Martin.
One of the strengths of an electric cooperative system is the mutual assistance given to one another when needed. When a cooperative system is affected by a devastating storm, hurricane, or other disaster, there is a network of cooperatives to assist when called upon. Crews from Maryland, Tennessee, North Carolina, Mississippi and Georgia have joined REC crews working around the clock to restore power as quickly and safely as possible.
To report a power outage, please call 1-800-552-3904 or log into Web Self-Service and report your outage online. If the cause of the damage is evident, and you are reporting your outage by phone, please provide information concerning cause and location to the customer service representative. Callers with no additional information are encouraged to choose the automated reporting option. Members who rely on a smart phone can also access outage information and report an outage through myrec.coop .
REC provides electric service to over 155,000 connections in parts of 22 Virginia counties. With its general office in Fredericksburg, Va., Rappahannock maintains more than 16,000 miles of power lines through its service area, which ranges from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the tidal waters of the Chesapeake Bay.