[Arrington, VA] – Seven linemen from Central Virginia Electric Cooperative answered the call and deployed to Blue Ridge Energy, a sister electric cooperative located in western North Carolina near Boone, to help with restoration after the devastation from Hurricane Helene. CVEC linemen restored power at home before heading south to join other cooperative crews from across the country to rebuild electric infrastructure and restore power to over 61,000 members, which is about 75% of their total meter count. 

After 15 grueling days of setting poles and putting up new electric lines, power to all members at Blue Ridge Energy was restored and the CVEC crews were released. 

Their selfless response and tireless work embody the cooperative spirit and “Cooperation among Cooperatives,” one of the seven cooperative principles. Cooperatives in seven states were impacted by damage from Hurricane Helene and mutual aid crews were sent from 17 different states to help with restoration. Some crews came as far away as Wisconsin, Texas and Oklahoma. 

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Central Virginia Electric Cooperative is a member-owned, not-for-profit, electric utility serving 39,000 homes, farms and businesses in the rural portions of 14 Virginia counties. CVEC connects its members and communities through reliable power and broadband services, delivering world-class, high-speed internet service through its subsidiary, Firefly Fiber Broadband. CVEC and its subsidiary are equal opportunity providers and employers. For more information, visit www.mycvec.com.

Travis Massie, Ethan Yancey, Graham Hughes, Jonathan Elliott, Jimmy Wilmoth, Dustin Foley and Billy Cascio (not pictured)

Graphic courtesy of NRECA

Devastation/CVEC restoration efforts in western North Carolina

Photo courtesy of Jimmy Wilmoth