Rural Power Companies Prepare For Winter Storm

Rural power companies will have their work cut out for them if Green Country sees ice, which is a real possibility in the southeast parts of the state.

On February 1, GRDA crews started preparing for the winter storm.

GRDA spokesman Justin Alberty said they spent the day fueling trucks, getting supplies, and waiting for the weather to hit.

“They spent the day getting ready for all of that work, making sure everything is stocked up and ready to go," he said. “There’s no panic here there’s just prep work, and our guys, certainly our staff is trained to handle this.”

Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives General Manager Chris Meyers said electric co-op crews across the state are doing the same thing.

Backup is ready to be called in to cover the co-ops huge service areas.

The biggest concern is icing.

“Well, the lines can certainly handle snow better than they can ice," Alberty said. "A lot of snow is not the issue, it’s when we get a little bit of ice. A fair amount of ice that might fall and freeze on our transmission lines. And then you combine the ice with the wind.”

The ice buildup plus high winds can spell disaster for power lines.

If the weather stays snowy, Alberty and Meyers said the power lines and repairs crews can handle it.

“Mother nature has the final say when it gets really bad," Alberty said. "But we are sure prepared and ready to do all we can do to make sure our system stays up and ready to go.”

If you do find a downed line stay far away from it, especially if the ground is wet.