The Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina, Inc.

Helene update - Oct. 15: South Carolina's electric cooperatives have now restored power to all but 830 of the 425,000 members who lost power when Hurricane Helene pummeled the state two weeks ago. That means 99.8% of those who lost power and 99.9% of the entire S.C. cooperative system now have electricity. Helene will go down as one of the deadliest and most destructive storms to ever hit the Palmetto State, but our co-ops' response has been nothing short of astounding. South Carolina's co-ops mustered a workforce of more than 3,400 to restore power to their members. That included line workers from 11 S.C. co-ops that had finished restoration work as well as crews from 24 states. It amounts to one of the largest storm restoration efforts in state history. Four co-ops had to erect "tent cities" just to house the hundreds of extra crews. They worked 16-hour shifts rebuilding and repairing the electric system and slept at night on cots. That work still isn't quite done, as hundreds of meters still remain out. Most, if not all, of those will be back online by the end of this weekend. Our co-ops won't stop working until the very last light is on.

Lineworkers and service teams across multiple states are working around the clock against the overwhelming devastation of Hurricane Helene. Their efforts, along with full support of assisting crews (some from over 18 hours away), are a crucial first step in the recovery of the regions they serve. We and many co-op communities are inexpressibly grateful for you! Thank you to The Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina, Inc. for organizing and sharing efforts and updates from around your area. #PowerOn #HurricanHelene #CommitmentToCommunity

Helene update - Thursday, Oct. 10: After 14 days, more than 99% of the South Carolina electric cooperative members who lost power have been restored. Co-op crews and helpers from 24 states have turned the lights back on for about 421,000 members, down from a high of 425,000 on the morning of Friday, Sept. 27. Almost all of the 4,000 meters that remain offline will have their power restored in the next few days. These outages are concentrated in hard-to-reach or heavily damaged pockets of the western corner of the state, including in Aiken, Edgefield, Laurens, McCormick and Pickens counties. Restoration progress will continue to feel slow as we near the finish line. That's primarily due to two factors: the severe damage these areas suffered from Hurricane Helene, and the low density of rural cooperative service territories. South Carolina's co-ops serve primarily rural stretches of the state. We serve 70% of the state's land mass but just 40% of its population. We have about 11 members per mile of electric line, compared to 34 meters per mile for a typical power company. That means the hours our crews spend rebuilding just one line ultimately benefit fewer people. That's why these last few thousand meters are taking longer to bring back online. Rest assured, our co-ops have all the crews they can handle, and it's only a matter of time before we are back to normal.

Helene update - Tuesday, Oct. 8: Through almost 12 days of response, South Carolina's electric cooperatives have restored power to about 413,000 consumers, roughly 97.2% of those who lost power when Hurricane Helene pummeled the Palmetto State on Sept. 27. More than 3,000 line workers are in the field restoring power to the 12,300 co-op meters that remain offline, almost all of them in the hard-hit western corner of South Carolina. These workers are pulling 16-hour shifts and sleeping at night in “tent cities” that co-ops have erected in recent days. In addition to out-of-state workers, 11 S.C. co-ops have sent crews to help restore power for their fellow co-ops on the state’s western half. The bulk of the remaining outages will be restored in the next few days, but the electric infrastructure in some rugged or inaccessible areas will take longer to reach and rebuild. In the final stages of restoration, the pace of progress will naturally slow down as crews focus on more isolated outages that affect smaller numbers of cooperative consumers. But their work will continue until the very last light is on.

Helene update - Saturday, Oct. 5: South Carolina's electric cooperatives have now restored power to more than 388,000 consumers, about 91.3% of those who were knocked offline by Hurricane Helene. About 37,000 cooperative meters - 4.1% of the statewide system - remain without power, down from a high of 425,000 more than a week ago. More than 3,300 line workers are continuing to hustle day and night to turn the lights back on. They are working in some of the most remote, rugged areas South Carolina has to offer, and they have more than 3,750 broken power poles to replace - an unprecedented level of destruction in the Upstate and along the Palmetto State's western border. Rebuilding the power grid will take days in some places and more than a week in others. Our folks will continue to work until the very last light is back on.

Helene Friday (Oct. 4) update: South Carolina’s electric cooperatives have more than 3,200 line workers laboring around the clock to turn the lights back on after Hurricane Helene, a workforce that includes crews from at least 23 states as well as mutual aid crews from eight fellow S.C. co-ops that have already finished their restoration work.   With their help, S.C. electric co-ops have now restored power to more than 367,000 consumers statewide in the week since Helene tore through the Palmetto State.   More than 86% of the 425,000 cooperative members who lost power were back online as of 2:30 p.m. Friday.   About 6.4% of the entire cooperative statewide system – roughly 58,000 meters – remains without power, with most of those remaining outages located in the hard-hit Upstate and along the Palmetto State’s western border.   There, Helene has proven one of the most destructive storms in state history. Parts of the co-op system still remain inaccessible due to downed trees and debris. Large stretches of the co-op system suffered damage beyond repair and must be rebuit.   At least 3,300 snapped co-op power poles – and counting – will need to be replaced, and it can take up to four hours for a four-man crew to replace a single pole.   Cooperatives ask that their consumers continue to prepare for extended outages. While most of the remaining outages will be restored in the next few days, the most remote, hard-hit areas could be without power for more than a week.   “My heart goes out to the South Carolinians who have lost their loved ones, friends, homes and belongings due to this horrific storm,” said Mike Couick, CEO of the Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina. “Our folks are doing everything they can to help by restoring power as quickly as possible to the communities that remain out. Our work won’t stop until the very last light is back on.”

South Carolina’s electric cooperatives have now restored power to more than 330,000 consumers statewide, turning the lights back on for more than 77% of the co-op members who lost power when Hurricane Helene churned through the state Friday morning. Less than 95,000 cooperative meters remain offline, down from a peak of 425,000 Friday morning. That means less than 11% of the statewide cooperative system is still without power, down from a peak of 47%. Most of those remaining outages are concentrated in the hard-hit Upstate and along the Palmetto State’s western border, where Helene’s heavy rains and high winds brought devastation not seen in decades. Cooperative crews and contractors continue to make great progress in what amounts to one of the largest storm restoration efforts in South Carolina history. More than 2,400 line workers are laboring around the clock to restore power to co-op consumers. They include mutual aid crews from a half-dozen S.C. co-ops as well as out-of-state line workers from at least 18 states. The job ahead of them is immense. More than 2,800 snapped co-op power poles – and counting – will need to be replaced, and it can take up to four hours for a four-man crew to replace a single pole. Parts of the co-op system remain inaccessible due to downed trees and debris. Much of the Palmetto State’s power grid will need to be rebuilt rather than repaired. Cooperatives are asking that their consumers continue to prepare for extended outages. While many outages will be restored in the coming days, it could take a week or more for parts of the cooperative system to come back online. “Cooperative line workers are working night and day to get the lights back on,” said Mike Couick, CEO of the Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina. “We’ve been touched to see the outpouring of support for our linemen, from members delivering cookies and meals to co-op offices to school children sending in letters of support. We ask for your continued patience and understanding in the coming days.”

Look for the helpers.

South Carolina’s electric cooperatives have now restored power to more than 288,000 consumers statewide, making significant progress in the days since Hurricane Helene knocked out the lights for about 425,000 consumers Friday morning.   More than 1,000 cooperative line workers are hustling around the clock to restore power, including hundreds from out of state and from the half-dozen S.C. co-ops that have already completed their restoration efforts.   About 137,000 co-op members remain without power. Most of those outages are concentrated in the hard-hit Upstate and along the Palmetto State’s western border, where Helene has proven to be the most destructive storm in decades.   The powerful hurricane snapped more than 2,000 cooperative power poles and toppled dozens of transmission lines across the state, requiring some parts of the power grid to be rebuilt rather than repaired.   Cooperatives are asking that their consumers continue to prepare for extended outages. While many outages will be restored in the coming days, it could take a week or more for parts of the cooperative system to come back online.   “The damage we’re seeing from Helene is beyond anything I’ve witnessed in my 19 years working for South Carolina’s co-ops,” said Mike Couick, CEO of the Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina. “Our co-ops are responding on a massive scale, but this process is going to take time, and it is going to require a lot of patience.” Attached are a few photos taken yesterday in Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative's service territory.

South Carolina’s electric cooperatives have now restored power to more than 288,000 consumers statewide, making significant progress in the days since Hurricane Helene knocked out the lights for about 425,000 consumers Friday morning.   More than 1,000 cooperative line workers are hustling around the clock to restore power, including hundreds from out of state and from the half-dozen S.C. co-ops that have already completed their restoration efforts.   About 137,000 co-op members remain without power. Most of those outages are concentrated in the hard-hit Upstate and along the Palmetto State’s western border, where Helene has proven to be the most destructive storm in decades.   The powerful hurricane snapped more than 2,000 cooperative power poles and toppled dozens of transmission lines across the state, requiring some parts of the power grid to be rebuilt rather than repaired.   Cooperatives are asking that their consumers continue to prepare for extended outages. While many outages will be restored in the coming days, it could take a week or more for parts of the cooperative system to come back online.   “The damage we’re seeing from Helene is beyond anything I’ve witnessed in my 19 years working for South Carolina’s co-ops,” said Mike Couick, CEO of the Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina. “Our co-ops are responding on a massive scale, but this process is going to take time, and it is going to require a lot of patience.” Attached are a few photos taken yesterday in Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative's service territory.