Electric cooperatives in Ohio are extending mutual aid to co-ops in North and South Carolina following Hurricane Helene. The hurricane left millions without power across the Southeast and Midwest.
Lineworkers started assisting Ohio co-ops on Friday after strong winds caused power outages in the southern part of the state. South Central Power, Buckeye Rural, and Adams Rural Electric experienced significant damage.
On Saturday morning, Ohio co-ops began assembling volunteer lineworker crews to help electric cooperatives in the Carolinas. Laurens Electric Cooperative and Broad River Electric Cooperative in South Carolina required assistance, as did EnergyUnited in North Carolina.
Laurens Electric Cooperative reported that 98% of its members were without power, calling it potentially the worst disaster in its history. The mutual aid efforts to restore power could take several days to weeks in the hardest-hit areas.
"Mutual aid is common practice for Ohio’s electric co-ops," stated a representative. "The co-ops help each other with lineworkers, bucket trucks, and digger trucks whenever help is needed."
Ohio Co-ops Helping in the Carolinas:
Butler
Carroll
Consolidated
The Energy Co-op
Firelands
Frontier
Guernsey-Muskingum
Hancock-Wood
Holmes-Wayne
Logan
Mid-Ohio
Midwest
North Western
Pioneer
Carolina Co-ops Receiving Mutual Aid from Ohio:
Laurens EC in Laurens, SC: Holmes-Wayne, Consolidated, Hancock-Wood, North Western.
Energy United in Statesville, NC: Midwest, Firelands, Logan and Carroll.
Broad River EC in Cowpens, SC: Pioneer, Butler, GMEC (Guernsey-Muskingum), Frontier, The Energy Co-op.