In-state and out-of-state crews work to restore power in S.C.

January 17, 2022

Long before the wintry precipitation ended, power crews were out working to get the lights back on as safely and quickly as possible.

The northern Midlands and Upstate were the hardest hit areas as snow, freezing rain and high winds caused numerous trees and branches to fall on power lines.

At the height of the storm on Sunday, 50,000 electric cooperative members were without power. Since then, the number of homes still in the dark has dramatically improved.

Here's a look at how crews from in state and out of state are helping affected electric co-ops:

• Black River Electric Cooperative (Sumter, S.C.) is receiving assistance from Tri-County Electric Cooperative (St. Matthews, S.C.) and Edisto Electric Cooperative (Bamberg, S.C.)

• Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative is receiving out-of-state assistance from C&L Electric Cooperative (Star City, Arkansas) and in-state assistance from Berkeley Electric Cooperative (Moncks Corner, S.C.) and York Electric Cooperative (York, S.C.)

• Broad River Electric Cooperative (Gaffney, S.C.) is receiving out-of-state assistance from Escambia River Electric Cooperative (Jay, Florida)

• Fairfield Electric Cooperative (Blythewood, S.C.) is receiving assistance from Aiken Electric Cooperative (Aiken, S.C.)

• Laurens Electric Cooperative (Laurens, S.C.) is receiving out-of-state assistance from Jeff Davis Electric Cooperative (Jennings, Lousiana), Beauregard Electric Cooperative (DeRidder, Louisiana) and DEMCO Electric Cooperative (Greenwell Springs, Louisiana)

• Little River Electric Cooperative (Abbeville, S.C.) is receiving assistance from Aiken Electric Cooperative (Aiken, S.C.)

• Lynches River Electric Cooperative (Pageland, S.C.) is receiving assistance from Horry Electric Cooperative (Conway, S.C.), Santee Electric Cooperative (Kingstree, S.C.) and Williams Electric Cooperative (Shelby, N.C.)