REC sent three line crews to the western half of Frederick County this morning to help Shenandoah Valley Electric Cooperative (SVEC) restore electric service after this week's ice storm.
During the peak of the storm, nearly 2,500 REC member-owners had lost power. By late last night, REC had restored service to nearly all member-owners in Warren County, where more than a half-inch of ice impacted that area. So today, REC turned its attention to helping a fellow cooperative.
"We got slammed with this storm, and it's always helpful to have crews like REC's come in to help," said Preston Knight, public relations representative at SVEC. "We need every last one of them. Anytime you can rely on other cooperatives, it's a great benefit."
At the peak of the storm, Knight said about 7,000 SVEC members had lost power. As of 2 p.m., about 1,100 of their members remained without power.
"Over the years, SVEC and many other electric cooperatives have traveled to REC's service territory to help with restoration, and we're happy to return the favor whenever possible," said Casey Hollins, director of Communications and Public Relations at REC. "It's part of what being a cooperative is all about."
REC provides electric service to over 169,000 connections in parts of 22 Virginia counties. With its general office in Fredericksburg, Va., the Cooperative operates and maintains more than 17,000 miles of power lines through its service area, which ranges from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the tidal waters of the Chesapeake Bay.
