VVEC Experiences Small Number of Outages
Considering Severity of Ice Storm

COLLINSVILLE - Verdigris Valley Electric Cooperative (VVEC) experienced only a small number of weather-related outages during the recent debilitating ice storm. VVEC is a rural electric cooperative headquartered in Collinsville. It serves more than 24,300 consumers in portions of Nowata, Osage, Rogers, Tulsa and Washington Counties. It is Oklahoma's third largest electric cooperative.

According to Randy Riddle, VVEC's manager of operations and technical services, the co-op experienced only a few outages throughout most of the weekend, and these were "sporadic."

"These were the kind of outages we might expect any time we have bitterly cold weather," he says.
However, the last wave of precipitation that blew through Oklahoma Sunday, Jan. 14 began leaving ice accumulations on trees and electric lines along the co-op's eastern edge.

"We had a couple of icy tree-related outages that affected about 100 people east of Claremore," Riddle says. "We had a feeder coming out of our Vera substation that proved to be a problem throughout the night. The light ice accumulations, coupled with the high winds, caused the power line to oscillate, resulting in interruptions in the electric service." Riddle says about 600 VVEC members were affected at that time.
He adds electric service to about 10 members in the Tiawah area was interrupted after a car missed a corner and broke one of the utility poles.

Riddle goes on to say since VVEC's system fared well through the storm, they have sent crews to help those co-ops whose systems sustained the most damage.

Riddle says three two-man crews have been sent to help Northeast Electric Cooperative in Vinita with its restoration efforts. Four employees have also gone to help answer telephones and provide customer service. Northeast Electric lost more than 150 poles and had more than 25,800 members without service.

"We have several employees who volunteered to go and help, so it won't be a problem for us to rotate personnel," says Riddle.

"There is no way to avoid the severe weather we experience throughout the year in Oklahoma, or the damage it inflicts on our electric systems," says VVEC General Manager Alice Houston. "Fortunately, the impact of this particular storm to VVEC's system was minimal. Part of that is due to the year-long work we do maintaining our lines and equipment, and keeping the right-of-way clear of trees and brush.

"Mother Nature wasn't as kind to some of our neighboring cooperatives, so of course, we are glad to be able to give them as much assistance as we can. I know they would come and help us if VVEC needed their help. The fact we have employees volunteering to leave their homes and spend long days in bitter cold temperatures rebuilding Northeast's system, speaks to the type of people we have. I'm very proud of them for this and hope our members are also. Helping friends and neighbors when they need it most is simply the cooperative way."

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For more information, contact
Kathy Calico (918) 371-2584
7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday