FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Jim McCarty
(573) 659-3402
(573) 680-2451
 
Jan. 26, 2007

Southwest Electric Cooperative approaches completion of its recovery efforts as the Bolivar-based co-op works to restore power to approximately 200 members, following a devastating ice storm Jan. 12-14. Meanwhile two hard-hit co-ops continue to make progress. Ozark Electric Cooperative, Mount Vernon, reports 2,800 members remain without power, while Laclede Electric of Lebanon had 960 outages as of Friday morning.

At Ozark Electric, the most devastated system in the state, 50 additional linemen arrived Thursday to assist, bringing the total outside lineman, engineers and right-of-way personel working to restore power to 455. The co-op normally employs about 50 linemen.

In most areas still without power, restoration efforts are turning toward repairing connections to individual consumers. Unlike early efforts, which are focused on large three-phase lines, these repairs do not offer the possibility of restoring power to hundreds of consumers at a time.

 
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