steel poles, are showing promise, he added, and the co-op’s right of way maintenance program is paying off.
Right of way located southwest of Hugo has undergone several cycles of herbicide treatment, followed by brush cutting and tree trimming. “The damage in that area is still significant, but it could’ve been much worse,” he explained. “Right of way maintenance made a huge difference.”
The CEC system spans over 4,000 mostly mountainous miles, making it one of the largest electric co-op service areas in the state. When challenged by forces of nature, the land mass and terrain make tough working conditions for co-op crews and other emergency responders.
In the aftermath of Cleon, CEC office personnel served crews a daily, 5 am breakfast at co-op headquarters before sending them out into the field with a packed lunch and a pat on the back.
Teams worked until well after dark; some worked around the clock.
Temperatures remained below freezing for days. “That in itself was pretty miserable,” Malone said. “And then the ground started getting rotten.”
Adding insult to injury, a flu epidemic swept the co-op office affecting some 15 employees. All managed to keep working. As one employee put it, “There was no other option.”
The CEC office itself operated on a generator for days. When the main server for the co-op’s computer system went down six days after the storm, inside personnel resorted to pen, pencil and scratch paper.
On December 16, 75 co-op members remained without power, and crews from CEC and other electric co-ops continued to slog away at repairs.
As the sun reappeared and worked its sparkly magic on the frigid countryside, one by one lights returned to windows in houses where residents rejoiced. ■
Ice Index "Spot On" Forecast helps co-ops prepare for storms
im Malone is no betting man, but the Choctaw Electric Cooperative (CEC) engineering director admits he’ll lay a wager on the Sperry-Pilz Ice Index. “The next time the index says we’re in for an ice storm, I’m taking my money and betting on it,” said Malone.
J
The latest tool in the arsenal of weather forecasting allows electric utilities to prepare for devastating storms hours, and even days, in advance. By using key parameters such as wind speed, temperature, and precipitation levels, the Sperry-Pilz Index is able to predict ice accumulations within an electric utility service territory with near supernatural accuracy.
Winter Storm Cleon forecasts showed possible ice buildup of 1 to 1.5 inches
in the north and west portions of CEC territory, with Hugo and other areas receiving slightly less. Forty miles to the east, predictions showed Idabel and Broken Bow with little to no accumulation.
“The ice index was spot on,” Malone said. “It predicted the amount of ice, the way it would curve through our system and the number of days we could expect to be out of power. The accuracy was amazing.”
Winter Storm Cleon was CEC’s first opportunity to test the ice index as previous winters have been blissfully mild. Malone said he won’t hesitate to pay close attention to the ice index the next time around. “Let’s just hope that’s not too soon,” he said.
Stay Posted, Stay Safe
Choctaw Electric will continue to keep members informed of restoration progress via online updates at www.
choctawelectric.coop, and in the monthly newsletter, Inside Your Coop.
Meanwhile, the co-op is urging members to be extremely cautious as they assess damage on their property. Trees damaged by the storm could continue to break and fall. This could cause temporary service interruptions and greater risk for electrical hazards.
If you spot a downed line or electrical hazard, please stay away and do not attempt to repair or remove the damage yourself as electrocution is possible.
Please report the situation to Choctaw Electric immediately at 800-780-6486 or call 911.
Your cooperation and patience are appreciated.
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