News

11/19/2009

Kenergy responds to PSC report on recent storms

For immediate release

Contact:     Renee Beasley Jones

                  (270) 316-4335  (cell) or 800-844-4832

(Note to media:  Kenergy is a member-owned, not-for-profit electric distribution cooperative providing electricity to more than 55,000 households, industries and businesses in Daviess, Hancock, Muhlenberg, Ohio, McLean, Henderson, Union, Webster, Hopkins, Crittenden, Lyon, Caldwell, Livingston and Breckinridge counties in western Kentucky.)

Kenergy responds to PSC report on recent storms

HENDERSON, Ky. – Kenergy officials applaud the Kentucky Public Service Commission’s (PSC) months of work leading up to its newly released report about restoration efforts after the September 2008 windstorm and January 2009 ice storm.

In addition, the electric co-op agrees with all the PSC’s recommendations, including its request that Kentuckians prepare themselves for disasters.

“After a preliminary review of the PSC report, Kenergy officials are pleased to say we have already implemented or started work on all of the PSC’s recommendations,” said Sandy Novick, Kenergy CEO. 

Here are a few of the PSC recommendations Kenergy has already implemented:

• Beefed up efforts to work more closely with Emergency Management offices in Kenergy’s 14-county service territory.  Also, the co-op implemented a plan to place a Kenergy representative in every Emergency Management office during a state of emergency.
• Developed a new Emergency Communications Plan.
• Started a new member education program titled “The First 72 Is on You,” which urges residents to prepare for disasters that result in 72 hours without electricity and other essential services. 
• Installed a new telephone system, which nearly doubles the number of phone lines coming into the co-op.  That new system will greatly increase the co-op’s ability to handle large call volumes during system-wide outages.
• Switched to a single 800-number for any office, any time.  Kenergy officials believe this system-wide number will make it simpler for members to report outages.
• Started using new social networking tools such as Twitter and Facebook.  And the co-op is working on plans to provide far more information on its Web site when disaster strikes again.
• Started internal procedures to provide estimated power-restoration times in the future.
• Invested in satellite phones as a result of the January ice storm.
• Hardened critical circuits on the co-op’s distribution system on a continuous basis. However, the co-op has budgeted additional funds for 2010 to add strategically located guy wires.

These are just a few tasks Kenergy has concentrated on since the ice storm.  The co-op continues to conduct post-storm meetings to ensure it provides better service to its members if disaster strikes again.

Today’s PSC report confirms that Kenergy has been on the right track, Novick said. The co-op stands ready to meet all the PSC’s recommendations.

“Our employees worked tirelessly during the windstorm and ice storm to restore power, and they’ve continued to work tirelessly to ensure our member-owners receive the best service possible.  My thanks to our employees, who had the foresight to reach the same conclusions as the PSC,” Novick said.

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