More than 80 lineworkers from Kansas electric co-ops convoying with nearly 40 pieces of equipment — from bucket trucks to diggers to skid steers — left Kansas the morning of Oct. 3 to aid in Aiken’s power restoration efforts. 

At the height of the storm, Aiken EC reported 92% of its system was down, leaving only a few thousand members with power. As of Wednesday, Oct. 2, 50% of their members were still without power. The damage was so severe, Aiken Electric Cooperative reports that “it’s more than power restoration but rather a complete system rebuild.” 

The following Kansas electric co-ops have sent crews and equipment: 

• 4 Rivers Electric Cooperative, Lebo 

• Bluestem Electric Cooperative, Clay Center and Wamego 

• Butler Electric Cooperative, El Dorado 

• Caney Valley Electric Cooperative, Cedar Vale 

• DSO Electric Cooperative, Solomon 

• Flint Hills Rural Electric Cooperative, Council Grove 

• FreeState Electric Cooperative, McLouth and Topeka 

• Heartland Rural Electric Cooperative, Girard 

• Lane-Scott Electric Cooperative, Dighton

• Nemaha-Marshall Electric Cooperative, Axtell 

• Pioneer Electric Cooperative, Ulysses 

• Southern Pioneer Electric Company, Medicine Lodge and Liberal 

• Twin Valley Electric Cooperative, Altamont 

• Victory Electric Cooperative, Dodge City 

• Wheatland Electric Cooperative, Scott City 

The electric cooperative mutual aid model allows electric co-ops to help each other during times of need. This approach permits co-ops to “borrow” restoration workers from other co-ops, thereby increasing the workforce response to areas impacted by a major outage event. It’s essentially about neighbors helping neighbors, even when those neighbors are fellow co-ops located hundreds of miles away. 

Electric co-ops were formed to provide reliable electric service to our members at the lowest reasonable cost, and mutual aid has been a fundamental part of our DNA since co-ops were formed. The concept of mutual aid originated with the rural electrification efforts in the 1930s. From the very beginning, electric co-ops relied on each other to assist in times of need, and mutual aid provides an essential safety net in times of crisis.