Laurens Electric – Tuesday Afternoon Update

As of Tuesday at 5 P.m., power has been restored to 32,501 members, representing 51% of our member-base.

20 of 32 substations are back online.

Reports we’ve received estimate transmission to some parts of Abbeville, Anderson, Laurens, Newberry, Union, and Spartanburg counties may be restored by Oct 7. Until then, power is not flowing to our distribution lines that bring power to those neighborhoods, homes, and businesses.

Once transmission is restored, we can determine what further repairs need to be made that crews have not already completed.

As more progress is made, more specific information will be provided.

The co-op is focused on rebuilding much of our infrastructure while transmission is reestablished. Laurens Electric crews are working in rotating shifts 24 hours a day in all parts of our service area. The co-op has 200 crews representing more than 400 line technicians and right-of-way workers operating now.

They are staging in large parking lots throughout the area to help relieve congestion at our operations centers. Staging also allows these workers to be briefed with planning and safety information closer to the areas in which they will be working.

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 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.