July 8, 2019 Home
Powell Valley Electric Cooperative has a top of the line computer system in place that tracks the electric grid in its eight county area. When there is a power outage, the system makes three tries to repair itself. If that doesn’t get the power back on, a work crew is sent out.
For sure, the computer system can quickly find the location the problem. However, linemen must go out and repair the damaged line or pole. This repair cannot be done in the office.
On the night of June 21-22, there were strong winds, lots of rain, and very stormy weather in Hancock County. Joey Southern, PVEC Area Supervisor for the Sneedville office, reported 29 separate power outages in the Sneedville area alone.
Beginning just after midnight on Saturday morning, lineman and supervisors worked through the night and day for 20 hours. Office manager LeeAnn Dalton worked more than 14 hours answering phone calls and relaying information. Around dawn on Saturday a crew form the Tazewell PVEC area joined in the work to restore power in Hancock County.
No one likes to have their electric power out. Electricity is essential to our lives – at home and at work. We take it for granted that we will be able to use all our electric devices, machines, and equipment. When the power goes out, the workers at PVEC go out in all kinds of weather, day or night, to restore our electricity.
On a very calm and sunny Thursday morning after the stormy weekend, several PVEC Member Voices members brought doughnuts and drinks to the Sneedville office as a token of thanks to the staff. We spent a few minutes before the daily staff meeting thanking them for the work they do.
If you see PVEC linemen in the field or you go into the office to pay your bill, please thank the workers that you see. They do a great job for all of us – not just on stormy weekends, but all through the year.
Everyone needs to learn more about our electric cooperative. For more information, go to pve.coop.