South Carolina’s electric cooperatives are coordinating a robust response to an approaching winter weather
Photo by Micah Ponce
system. The National Weather Service predicts a “significant winter storm” will deliver substantial snowfall to northern counties in the state. In advance of the storm, Gov. Nikki Haley issued a state of emergency this afternoon for 31 counties in South Carolina.
“We are making sure our co-ops in the Upstate will have plenty of help if there is a need,” said Todd Carter, vice president of loss control and training at The Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina.
The state’s electric cooperatives are working closely with the South Carolina Office of Regulatory Staff and the state’s Emergency Management Division to coordinate storm response. Crews from Berkeley Electric Cooperative in Moncks Corner are traveling to Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative in Pickens this afternoon in advance of the storm. Line workers from other co-ops in the southern part of the state are ready to travel north tomorrow morning if widespread outages occur.
Though the snow is less a threat to utlity lines than ice, accumulations of heavy, wet snow can cause power outages. Moreover, the forecast track of this weather system shows potential impacts in areas already affected by last week’s ice storm.
“Some of our service areas probably have a large number of loose limbs and branches after the ice event last week,” said Carter. “Wet snow can certainly cause them to break and fall. No questions that’s one of the biggest concerns we have as we watch this storm approach.”
Berkeley Electric Cooperative crews leave Moncks Corner from Mark Quinn on Vimeo.
