POWERGRAMS

MUTUAL ASSISTANCE "It truly looked like a giant ice skating rink." That's how Brian Lindsay described the scene when Alabama Power employees arrived in the Dallas area to respond to thousands of outages from an ice storm that hit Texas and surrounding states. Two teams of more than 370 crew members and support personnel from all six divisions, along with 100 contractors, traveled to help Oncor Electric. "The parking lot we used as a staging area was covered with 3 to 4 inches of ice when we arrived," said Lindsay, Power Delivery Distribution Management Systems manager who coordinated the teams. "You could see water running under the ice beneath your feet." Alabama Power's first team arrived in Dallas, Fort Worth and nearby Plano on Thursday, Dec. 5, with the second group rolling in three days later. Despite the blanket of ice and 20- to 30-degree temperatures, employees worked night and day to help restore service to the more than 270,000 customers. Because of the frigid temperatures, the ice re-froze every night, making it a problem for the employees throughout their stay in Texas. "The travel was treacherous," said Wray Anderson, Operations manager, Demopolis Crew Headquarters. "We saw numerous wrecks due to the icy conditions. In some areas, it seemed as if there was a wreck at nearly every bridge." Walking was also extremely hazardous, said Jill Stork, Operations manager, Michigan Avenue Complex, who coordinated Mobile Division's storm team. After realizing the danger, Hillcrest Engineer Nick Hall called 20 Academy Sports + Outdoors stores to get as many ICEtrekkers as possible. The boot attachments have metal rings that provide traction for winter walking conditions. Oncor employees used skid-steer loaders at the staging area several times daily to clear the ice. "It was tough all the way up until when we left on Tuesday, Dec. 10," said Lindsay. "I prayed for our crews on a regular basis. I truly believe God had his hand on our crews while we were out there and protected us." Another challenge was the differences in Oncor's distribution system. "They tie together transformers on Photos by Donald Macon Company crews restore electricity for thousands in snowbound Texas Dadeville employees work on power lines in McKinney, Texas. different poles, so we had to pay close attention to multiple sources of voltage. At Alabama Power, every transformer or transformer bank serving one or more customers is isolated from all other transformers on adjacent poles," said Distribution Specialist Rex Henderson, Demopolis Crew Headquarters. Another unusual facet of the storm was that power lines remained energized, although ice-laden tree limbs were resting on them. "All we could figure is the ice was acting as an insulator," Stork said. Getting the lights on quickly and safely was a team effort, said Bobby Hawthorne, Distribution Engineering Services manager and one of three Storm Center directors. Engineers worked hand in hand with the crews, driving ahead to evaluate situations and then dispatching the workers. Other support personnel assisted in making room reservations, ordering and serving meals at the staging areas and distributing supplies. Fleet Services employees maintained and serviced company vehicles, while IT coordinated telecommunications. Texas residents were overjoyed to see Alabama Power trucks in their communities, with some thanking employees with a hot cup of coffee. One subdivision, Richardson Heights, sent Alabama Power a special "thank-you" card image on its Facebook page. Many customers posted messages of gratitude, including: "Alabama Power, you are true heroes!" wrote Amie Magill DeRegge. "When you guys arrived on the scene, after 60 hours with no power, I was happier than a child seeing Santa. You all were the most sincere and hardworking group of men. Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart." "My sincere thanks to all the Alabama Power men who restored our power today," wrote Edwina Dye. "You were truly a godsend. You were all so very polite and hardworking, and you made it seem like it was just another day in sunny Alabama for you." "Another big thanks from East Dallas," wrote David Pearson. "Please tell your crews that their hard work in the cold weather and sacrifice in being away from home is sincerely appreciated. You guys are rock stars!" Stork also commended employees for their efforts. "These guys worked in conditions that many of them have never seen before, and they did it safely and with Target Zero in mind," she said. "I'm very proud of their work ethic and attitude, especially under the conditions in which we were working. There is no doubt that Alabama Power is the best at storm restoration." ON THE COVER: Many people celebrate Christmas each year by taking part in nighttime holiday parades on Alabama Power reservoirs, viewing or driving boats, barges and other watercraft decorated with sparkling lights and designs. Photo by Chris Jones. 2 By Carla Davis

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