Tennessee’s locally owned electric utilities are helping to get power back on in places impacted by Hurricane Irma, with more than 126 lineworkers from across Tennessee answering the call for help. 

"Twelve municipal and county electric companies in Tennessee sent crews to areas without power due to the effects of this devastating hurricane," said Brian Solsbee, Executive Director of the Tennessee Municipal Electric Power Association (TMEPA).

Crews and equipment left for Florida and Georgia this week to help get electric service restored when 6 million customers in Florida were left in the dark and 1.5 million in Georgia. EPB of Chattanooga also suffered extensive damage when the remnants of Hurricane Irma came through on Monday, and they put out a request for help from neighboring utilities.

"Whether it’s next door or in another state, it’s about helping one another when the worst happens," says Solsbee. "When Tennessee gets hit with ice storms and severe weather, our neighbors help us when we need it most. We are proud to help them in their time of greatest need."

Nearly 60,000 electric utility personnel are working in Florida, Georgia and elsewhere to restore power. Tennessee lineworkers were able to help once the storm moved through and they weren’t needed at home. Mutual aid agreements between utilities across the country allow them to call for help when they are faced with damage from severe weather and disasters. 

"There’s a lot of clean-up being done, and lineworkers are working day and night to get the power turned on in some of the hardest hit areas," says Solsbee. "We appreciate their sacrifice of leaving their families along with their dedication to help others in need."

TMEPA is an association of 59 municipal systems across Tennessee which serve 2.1 million homes and businesses, or 70% of the state’s electric customers.   

 

Utilities Sending Crews and Equipment:

• Athens Utility Board – 6 lineworkers to Wauchula, Florida
• Cleveland Utilities – 4 lineworkers to Chattanooga, Tennessee, 4 lineworkers to Gainesville, Florida
• Greeneville Light and Power – 10 lineworkers to Gainesville, Florida
• Knoxville Utilities Board – 15 lineworkers to Chattanooga, Tennessee
• LaFollette Utilities – 7 lineworkers to Chattanooga, Tennessee
• Memphis Light, Gas and Water – 20 lineworkers to Gainesville, Florida
• Murfreesboro Electric Department – 8 lineworkers to Orlando, Florida
• Nashville Electric Service – 30 lineworkers to Chattanooga, Tennessee
• Newport Utilities - 5 lineworkers to Savannah, Georgia
• Sevier County Electric Service – 8 lineworkers to Orlando, Florida
• Shelbyville Power, Water and Sewerage – 6 lineworkers to Chattanooga, Tennessee
• Tullahoma Utilities Authority – 3 lineworkers to Wauchula, Florida