After more than a week spent in Texas, hundreds of Alabama Power line workers and contractors have returned home. Their mission was to restore power to people affected by Hurricane Beryl, and now, thanks to their hard work, 99% of CenterPoint Energy customers have their lights back on.
Two weeks ago, a category one hurricane made landfall in Texas after ripping through the Caribbean. The storm caused extensive flooding and power outages, affecting over two million people.
Alabama Power’s spokesperson, Anthony Cook, stated that the aftermath of the storm left a trail of destruction, including fallen trees and limbs, damaged power poles, and wires. All of this debris must be cleared and repaired before electricity can be restored. The company’s workforce of 350 individuals, which includes 300 contractors, worked tirelessly for 11 consecutive days to ensure that the power was back up and running. Finally, on Friday, they were able to conclude their efforts.
According to Cook, during events like this, everyone pitches in to help. Utility companies from different parts of the country collaborate towards a shared objective, and it is all part of a system of mutual aid.
Cook explained that during Hurricane Idalia last year, they received assistance from other utilities to help restore power. This time around, when a partner needed their help to restore power for customers in Texas, they were happy to return the favor. “So there are times when we need assistance and this time, it was our turn to step up and provide support,” Cook said.
As part of the restoration effort, Alabama Power has reported that their team was able to repair or replace a total of 113 poles, 962 spans of wire, 83 transformers, 809 services, and 96 switches.