Laurens Electric Friday Morning Update

As of Friday at 8:30 a.m., 16,337 members remain without power.

Service has been restored to 47,525 members, representing 75% of our member-base.

All 32 substations are back online.

There are more than 350 broken power poles across our system, and we have replaced about 180 of them. After cutting away trees, it takes a crew an average of 2 to 4 hours to remove and reset a new pole.

The co-op has 250 crews representing more than 537 line technicians and right-of-way workers operating now, including mutual aid workers from 17 states, and more will arrive today.

They’re working in rotating shifts 24 hours a day in all parts of our service area, replacing broken power poles, restringing distribution lines, rebuilding circuits, and making repairs in seven Upstate counties. The extensive damage to our system means there is still significant work to do before power is fully restored to every member.

As more of our system becomes energized, it is extremely important to stay away from downed power lines and anything they touch.

The co-op cannot provide an estimated time of restoration yet but will share that information as soon as it is available. For the most up-to-date outage information, look for our updates on social media (Facebook, X, and Instagram).

While driving, please make way for crews working on roadsides, and don’t approach lineworkers while they’re on the job; it presents a safety hazard for them and the public and disrupts restoration work.

Members who are dependent on medical equipment at home and are without power should contact the S.C. Department of Public Health at 1-855-472-3432 to find out if they are eligible for a medical needs shelter.

We remain grateful for our members’ understanding and patience as we respond to this emergency.