|
|
|
Mutual Aid Program
Benefits Every Cooperative Member One of the strengths of the electric cooperative system is our mutual aid program. If any cooperative system gets hit with a devastating ice storm, hurricane, or some other disaster, other cooperatives will assist in any way they can. As I write this article, we have four linemen in Iowa helping restore power from an ice storm. They have been gone for almost a week assisting a cooperative in Harlan, Iowa. Nishnabotna Valley REC is a system smaller than ours, but they had almost a third of their members out of power. They still have several hundred members off as I write this. Twenty-three Missouri cooperatives have sent 117 linemen to help cooperatives across Iowa. The four linemen that Farmers' sent are Ed Turbyfill, Darrell Underwood, JackBoley, and Clint Isaacs. I'm proud of these guys for volunteering to go help another cooperative, and to work long hours under severe weather conditions. It is a hardship for our linemen and their families for them to be away from home doing this, but we always have more of our linemen volunteer for these trips than we are asked to send. Sometimes we are questioned about the cost to our members for sending this help. There is no cost to the members of Farmers' Electric, as the cooperative receiving the mutual aid pays for all of the expenses. I don't like sending our linemen on these assignments, as I worry about their safety due to the extreme conditions and long hours. However, I know that their help is needed, and we should assist whenever possible. It is comforting to know that if we ever experience a severe storm here, we can count on our fellow cooperatives to help get your power back on as soon as possible. |
|
PRINT
THIS WINDOW
|
