After 70 degree temperatures last week, Mother Nature has sent a reality check to remind us we are indeed approaching the winter season.  With lows back in the 20’s, highs in the 40’s, and a light blanket of snow on the ground, it certainly feels like the holiday season once again. 

In fact as I write this article it is mid-December.  Most of us are preoccupied with thoughts of Christmas and what we have left to do in order to be prepared for the big day.  However, our neighbors in the mid-west have had their holiday plans interrupted by one of the worst ice storms in recent history.  More than two  inches of ice accumulated on power lines, trees, and roads last week in Oklahoma, Kansas, and Missouri, leaving over one million residents without electricity. 

The damage to power lines was so severe that French Broad EMC’s contract line crews were contacted and asked to assist in the restoration efforts.  Two full crews were released and immediately headed to Tulsa, Oklahoma, where they will begin to rebuild the electrical lines that serve the city and surrounding communities.  They will no doubt endure frigid working conditions as well as humble accommodations while they work at least 16 hours per day setting poles and putting wires back in the air.   Despite knowing there was no guarantee of returning home in time to spend Christmas with their families, these linemen loaded their equipment and drove trucks through the night to reach their destination the next day.  Please keep in your thoughts our crews along with the many others who are assisting in the restoration of power to the homes and businesses affected by the storm.  And pray for their safe return home. 

Anytime an ice storm is forecast, there is cause for concern.  The destruction an inch of ice can cause is usually much worse than a foot of snow, especially for power lines.  The main problem is the way the ice accumulates around the wires that are suspended in the air by the poles.  As this ice gets thicker and thicker around the wire, the weight becomes too great for the wire and poles, so something has to break. 

Another problem is that the ice also accumulates on the surrounding trees, causing them to collapse on the lines, bringing everything to the ground.  The only relief at this point is for the temperature to rise and melt the ice or for it to drop and allow the precipitation to turn to snow.  Until this happens, lines and poles start breaking all over the system and mass power outages occur.  To make matters worse, navigating the roads in these conditions is difficult and slow. 
Although nothing can be done to prevent such a storm from striking our service area, a few preventive maintenance steps can be taken to minimize the effects of an ice storm. 

One step we take is to inspect our lines for weak areas and make the necessary corrections and repairs as needed.  Another important step is maintaining our rights of way by trimming back the overhanging trees and branches.  This certainly does not provide absolute immunity from storms or strong winds, but it does minimize the amount of damage that could occur.  Also, by keeping our right of way clear, we gain easier access to our lines to repair them more efficiently. 

Because of our mountainous terrain and abundant vegetation, cutting and trimming trees is French Broad EMC’s second biggest expense, with wholesale power cost being the first.  However, the board of directors along with the employees at French Broad EMC is committed to providing reliable service to our membership.  Our investment in right-of-way maintenance is necessary to meet this goal and we are continually looking at new ways that will minimize the cost without sacrificing reliability.  We also want to say “Thank You” to those members who allow us access to our power lines, making it easier to do our job and helping us be as efficient as possible.

Thank You,
Jeff Loven
Email: jeff.loven@frenchbroademc.com


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