Winter weather is bearing down on Georgia prompting local utilities to prepare for possible interruptions in service.Habersham EMC has worked its share of storms lately. Hurricane Iram in September and Winter Storm Benji in December both caused widespread outages in the cooperative’s six-county service area.
HEMC officials released a statement Tuesday saying they are closely monitoring weather conditions with Winter Storm Inga. “Employees are on a heightened state of readiness and prepared to react immediately,” the release states.
The local cooperative says contingency plans are in place to address potential outages associated with snow accumulation, high winds and extreme cold. According to the company, the following steps have been taken:
- Poles, wire, transformers and other supplies used in the restoration process are in stock
- HEMC crews, in addition to contractors, are on standby if needed
- Personnel are prepared to work in shifts around the clock until all power is restored
- Improvements have been made to the online outage map system information updating process
- More frequent communication to members through social media, corporate website and local media.
“HEMC anticipates system-wide peaks of electrical demand and consumption due to the forecasted temperatures,” the statement reads. “This increased demand may cause outages. Peak use typically occurs in early morning as temperatures are lowest and people are preparing for the day. Conservation is encouraged during these times.”
For winter weather preparation tips, please visit Ready.gov.
