Middle Tennessee Electric sending line crews to South Carolina ahead of Hurricane Ian

Murfreesboro, Tenn.— Crews from Middle Tennessee Electric (MTE) will leave Thursday morning for Ridgeland, South Carolina, to assist Palmetto Electric Cooperative with power restoration in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian. Palmetto Electric serves over 75,000 members in Beaufort, Hampton and Jasper counties along the southern coast of South Carolina.

Hurricane Ian made landfall along the southwest Florida coastline at Punta Gorda, Florida, near Port Charlotte on Wednesday as a Category 4 storm. On its current track, it will be in the Palmetto Electric service territory area on Friday. With the anticipation of significant power outages due to high wind and potential tornados, MTE crews will be arriving ahead of the storm, so they are ready to aid in the restoration process immediately. 

“A special thanks to these men and all the line workers who leave home and work long hours in dangerous conditions and inclement weather to restore power to those in need,” said Chris Jones, MTE president and CEO. “As a cooperative, Middle Tennessee Electric abides by the Seven Cooperative Principles; one of which calls for cooperation between cooperatives. This means that cooperatives help each other, particularly when faced with serious storm damage and destruction. MTE was the beneficiary of this type of help following the tornado in Wilson County in 2020, and we’re always ready to aid another cooperative in its time of need.

MTE crews will assist this area until all needs are met following the impact of the hurricane.