News

Click here to return to Current News.

Mar 4, 2010 - February Wind Storm Causes Extensive Damage

PLYMOUTH, NH – Seven days after a storm packing near-hurricane force winds swept over much of the state, power has been restored to all members of New Hampshire Electric Cooperative (NHEC).

It’s likely that crews will be repairing individual services and making temporary repairs permanent throughout the weekend and NHEC is urging members who may still be without power as of today to call the Outage Reporting Line at 1-800-343-6432.

At the height of the February 25-26 storm, approximately 45,000 members – more than half the Co-op’s membership – were without power. This represents the second largest number of outages ever experienced by NHEC, behind the 2008 Ice Storm that knocked out power to 49,000 members. At the height of this recent storm, more than 300 separate outages were reported in 86 of the 116 towns served by NHEC.

Large sections of the NHEC electrical distribution system sustained damage as a result of falling trees and limbs, especially in the southwestern, southeastern and central parts of the state. Restoration work got underway in these three areas before the wind stopped blowing. Once the majority of outages were restored in the towns surrounding the Co-op’s Sunapee and Plymouth service areas, line crews joined the effort in the company’s Raymond operating district, which was the hardest hit and would be the focal point of the remaining power restoration effort. The towns in that area including Allenstown, Candia, Chester, Deerfield, Epping, Epsom, Lee, Nottingham, Raymond and Sandown experienced system damage that rivaled that of the 2008 Ice Storm.

Preliminary equipment numbers tell the tale of the storm’s scope and damage. Ninety line crews replaced more than 70 broken poles, 80 transformers and 185 cross arms. Trucks delivered 4,700 wire connectors, 650 fuses, 725 insulators, 40,000 feet of primary wire, 12,000 feet of copper ground wire, and 12,000 feet of guy wire to keep up with the demand from the storm-damaged areas. At NHEC’s Plymouth Headquarters, 13,495 calls were received in a seven-day period following the storm. The normal volume for the same time period is about 1,849 calls.

NHEC could not have restored power to its members in this timeframe without help. Answering the call for assistance, 14 electric cooperatives, municipal electric companies and contractors from four states – New York, Vermont, Massachusetts and Michigan - sent personnel and equipment to help the massive restoration effort. Those workers were joined by 26 crews of tree trimmers from four different companies. NHEC’s Board of Directors and employees are grateful for their support and welcome the opportunity to return the favor. Housing and feeding the crew that numbered as many as 175 in the Raymond District alone was a logistical feat. Special thanks to Patty and Scott Biederman, owners of Biederman’s Deli in Plymouth, which prepared about 1,200 box lunches for the crews over the course of the restoration effort. Nearly 500 hotel rooms were required over the week to house the out-of-state crews. Special thanks to the Red Roof Inn of Plymouth, which offered deeply discounted rooms for line workers.

A preliminary cost of the restoration effort has not been tallied yet. NHEC will be gathering that information to submit to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for reimbursement in the event that the state is declared eligible for federal disaster relief.

Finally, NHEC wishes to thank its members for their patience. Expressions of support, from a honk and a wave to line workers in the field to the little girl on Lane Road in Chester who handed out Girl Scout cookies to line workers, were especially welcomed by employees as they worked 16-hour shifts to help members recover from the storm’s damage.

03/04/2010
February Wind Storm Causes Extensive Damage

02/09/2010
NHEC Foundation Awards $220,000 in 2009

02/01/2010
U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen Briefed on NHEC Smart Grid Plans

01/28/2010
NHEC Now Accepting Applications for 2010 Scholarships

01/26/2010
February 10 Deadline Set for BOD Candidates

01/12/2010
Co-op Bell Ringers Raise $3,578

01/12/2010
'Cut the Carbon' Kits Available at Local Libraries

12/15/2009
Button Up NH Announces Winter Weatherization Workshops

10/30/2009
Rate Changes Result in Overall Winter Decrease

10/21/2009
NHEC Accepting Sealed Bids for Vehicles, Equipment

09/08/2009
4th Annual Cooperative Covered Bridge 5K Nets $6,700

07/02/2009
Watch 2009 Annual Meeting on Youtube

06/12/2009
Co-op Members Raise $1,000 for Plymouth Senior Meals

06/10/2009
At 70th Annual Meeting, Co-op Looks Ahead

05/04/2009
BOD Election Ballots Mailing to Members

04/20/2009
NHEC Announces Rebates on Renewable Energy Systems

04/14/2009
'Capital Credits' to Be Listed on April/May Bills

04/09/2009
'Red Flag' Requirements Help Fight Identity Theft

03/09/2009
NHEC Lineman Receives Life Saving Award

01/29/2009
Feb. 11 Deadline to Apply for Nomination to Board

12/23/2008
NHEC HQ Closed December 26

12/20/2008
ICE STORM UPDATES

12/20/2008
Major Repair Work Complete Following Ice Storm

11/25/2008
Seeking Candidates for BOD, Nominating Committee

11/17/2008
Co-op Food Bank Challenge Hits $100,000 Goal, Donations Still Accepted

10/08/2008
Wind Power to Flow Soon Through Co-op Country

09/02/2008
Co-op Covered Bridge 5K Results

07/29/2008
Co-op Launches $100,000 Food Bank Challenge

06/24/2008
Annual Meeting 2008: Renewable Energy Contracts Announced

06/24/2008
Reals, Incumbents Elected to NHEC Board

06/09/2008
Annual Meeting Is June 21 at Loon Mountain

05/30/2008
NHEC Hosts June 3 Town Energy Forum

05/07/2008
Seasonal Rate Adjustment Effective May 1, 2008

04/23/2008
Online Outage Map Goes Live

03/31/2008
Co-op Aims to Reduce Carbon Footprint

03/25/2008
NHEC Foundation Passes Half-Million Dollar Mark

03/06/2008
Ski Partnership Wins National Energy Efficiency Award

01/29/2008
Committee Sets Feb. 15 Deadline for BOD Nominations

01/16/2008
A New Home for Squam's Ospreys

12/13/2007
NHEC Wins National Energy Efficiency Award

11/27/2007
Lighting Project Brings Out the Stars in Waterville Valley

09/03/2007
Cooperative Covered Bridge 5K Nets $6,000 for Pemi Youth Center

08/22/2007
NHEC Foundation Awards $46,000 in Grants

08/22/2007
Co-op Lineman Named 'Huskie Tools Hero'

08/06/2007
2nd Annual Pemi Youth Cooperative Covered Bridge 5K Set for September 1

07/30/2007
Co-op's Revolving Loan Fund Is Open for Business

06/18/2007
Annual Meeting 2007 Focuses on Changing Energy Landscape

06/18/2007
Four Incumbents Re-Elected to NHEC Board

05/25/2007
NHEC Joins 25x'25 Renewable Energy Coalition

05/08/2007
68th Annual Meeting to be held June 12 at Plymouth State University

04/22/2007
Power Fully Restored Following April Nor'Easter

04/21/2007
APRIL STORM PICS

04/16/2007
Four Candidates Nominated for Board of Directors

03/30/2007
NHEC Honored for Board Development

02/13/2007
Energy Efficiency Puts NHEC in National Spotlight

01/18/2007
Wanted: Exceptional High School Juniors for 2007 Youth Tour

01/15/2007
Now Accepting Applications for 2007 Scholarships

01/03/2007
NHEC Seeks Board Candidates for Nomination

01/03/2007
NHEC Foundation Grant Brings History Alive

11/01/2006
Hard Work, Teamwork, Key to Storm Restoration

10/25/2006
NHEC Foundation Donates $10,700 to NH Food Bank

10/04/2006
State Announces New Eligibility Requirements for Electric Assistance Program

09/07/2006
Miller, Westerling Blaze to Victory at Pemi Youth Cooperative Covered Bridge 5K

07/20/2006
NHEC Receives Grant for Economic Development Loan Program

06/28/2006
NHEC and Pemi Youth Center Hosted Cooperative Covered Bridge 5K Road Race

06/08/2006
Annual Meeting 2006: Another Good Year, but Challenges Lie Ahead

05/25/2006
Mount Cranmore and NHEC Team Up for Energy Efficiency

05/18/2006
Former Board Member Wins Aiken Award

04/27/2006
NHEC Honored for Board Development

04/27/2006
NHEC Board Member Achieves National Certification

04/27/2006
Renewable Energy Group Gets Boost From NHEC Foundation

04/03/2006
NHEC Foundation Completes First Round of Grants

03/14/2006
NHEC to Launch WildBlue� Satellite Internet Service

03/06/2006
NHEC Foundation Makes Wish Come True

02/28/2006
Candidates Nominated for BOD

02/21/2006
Storm Recovery Complete

12/16/2005
Winter Heating Assistance

12/16/2005
Your Space Heating Solution


	© 2010 New Hampshire Electric Cooperative, Inc. All rights reserved. 579 Tenney Mountain Highway - Plymouth, NH 03264-3154 1-800-698-2007 - fax: 603-536-8687 - email: Member Solutions [Sitemap] BOD - Privacy Policy & Terms of Use