Taylor Electric among WI Coops to send crews to South Carolina to aid in restoration efforts

Taylor Electric was one of 15 WI electric cooperatives that sent linemen on October 2nd to assist with storm recovery after Hurricane Helene left catastrophic damage to the service area of Aiken Electric Cooperative in Aiken, South Carolina.

Line Superintendent Wade Matyka and TEC linemen: Justin Fuchs, Mike Eloranta, Tim Habermeyer and Colten Cummings left early on October 2^nd to meet up with the WI caravan as they made their way to South Carolina.  After many hours of traffic jams, they arrived and would go straight to work after briefings and setting up their sleeping accommodations in what was named “Tent City”. 

October was Co-op Month and this truly displayed two of the seven cooperative principles: “Concern for Community” and “Cooperation among Cooperatives”.

 Participating Wisconsin electric cooperatives include:

Adams-Columbia Electric Cooperative

Barron Electric Cooperative

Bayfield Electric Cooperative

Chippewa Valley Electric Cooperative

Dairyland Power Cooperative

Dunn Energy Cooperative

Eau Claire Energy Cooperative

Jump River Electric Cooperative

Oakdale Electric Cooperative

Oconto Electric Cooperative

Price Electric Cooperative

Riverland Energy Cooperative

Rock Energy Cooperative

Scenic Rivers Energy Cooperative

Taylor Electric Cooperative

A crew from Alger Delta Cooperative Electric Association, located in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, joined the Wisconsin co-ops making the trip.

As of the writing of this article on October 8^th, the crew was still in Aiken with the exception of Wade. 

This is the tent where the guys will be staying while in Aiken, SC.  

A lineman waits until wire can be brought up to him to make repairs.

Damage to homes and vehicles was extensive as a result of the storm.