Service being restored

With help from neighboring utilities, Gibson Electric Membership Corp. has reduced the number of customers without power in Obion and Lake counties to 650.
Service has now been restored to about 11,950 of the 12,600 Gibson EMC customer-owners who have endured power outages since last week’s ice storms, according to Rita Alexander, vice president of human resources and communications.
At this point, customers who are still without power are being encouraged to call Gibson EMC to report the continued outage and to check their meter bases to ensure there is no damage to prevent them from having power.
Customers in Obion County may call 536-5920 or 885-5501 to report outages, while customers in Lake County may call (731) 253-7181.
Gibson EMC received help again Wednesday from Pickwick Electric Cooperative, Southwest Tennessee Electric Membership Corp., Milan Department of Public Utilities, Jackson Energy Authority, Tennessee Valley Electric Cooperative, Chickasaw Electric Cooperative, Humboldt Utilities, Lexington Electric System, Standard Electric Co., Cumberland Electric Membership Corp., Dyersburg Electric System, Union City Electric System, Bolivar Energy Authority, Weakley County Municipal Electric System, Townsend Tree Service and Deviney Construction.
“All of the crews are working safely and doing a great job. They are pushing themselves hard in bitter cold temperatures to get as many customers back on as fast as possible,” Gibson EMC president and CEO Dan Rodamaker said.
“Even so, Gibson EMC expects the restoration to take several more days. The damage is so severe and widespread that it is taking crews many hours to restore service to just a few customers.”
Anyone who does not have electric service or backup heat is being urged by Gibson EMC to seek emergency shelter. Those who are utilizing alternative heating sources are being advised to follow equipment directions. Fumes from heat sources and cooking sources like charcoal grills can be poisonous or even deadly in unventilated areas.
Customers whose electric service has already been restored are being encouraged to check on their friends and neighbors who may still be without power and in need of assistance.
Gibson EMC serves about 35,000 customers over 2,800 miles of line in Crockett, Dyer, Gibson, Lake, Obion, Madison, Haywood and Lauderdale counties.
Published in The Messenger 2.5.09

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