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We salute Nordean Hartle and Jack Schwab, two of our veteran linemen, who recently returned to Minnesota after spending 15 days away from our cooperative and their families. With a bucket truck and duffle bags, the two traveled to Louisiana to help our extended cooperative family whose power system was completely destroyed by Hurricane Katrina.

For Washington-St. Tammany Electric Cooperative, Katrina was the greatest catastrophe they have ever witnessed. The monster storm destroyed an estimated 3,500 miles of power lines, blew down poles like they were toothpicks, and left nearly 45,000 of the co-op’s members without power.

Jack and Nordean, along with 26 other linemen representing 10 Minnesota electric co-ops, convoyed into Franklinton, Louisiana on September 23 to help restore power to the homes, farms, and businesses of Washington-St. Tammany. According to a very grateful Mike Bergeaux with the Association of Louisiana Electric Cooperatives (ALEC), 1,200 line workers from 13 states helped in the effort. Mike was in charge of coordinating out-of-state crew arrivals so they had places to sleep, food to eat, and materials to perform their jobs.

The job of getting power restored is nearing completion, but the size of the job was almost too big for words. The heavily wooded area was wracked by water, splintered trees, and tons of debris. Our linemen spent 11 days hanging transformers and making the service loops that connect power poles to houses, barns, or businesses. One step ahead of our guys, crews replaced or repaired poles and lines in neighborhoods and along roadways.

Workdays for the guys were roasting hot and 14 to 16 hours long. They started each day at 5 a.m. and got done about 9:00 or 9:30 in the evening. Dinner was served and then they hit the sack at a nearby church. We’re told that an 18-wheeler pulled in every two days with a load of Gatorade for the crew.

By the end of the October 3 workday, Washington-St. Tammany had restored power to 100 percent of its members who were ready to accept power. Due to Katrina’s catastrophic flooding and wind damage in some areas, hundreds of the co-op’s members sustained too much damage to their homes and businesses to have power restored until they’ve had time to make the necessary repairs.

While Katrina brought ashore great pain and suffering for our southern neighbors, it did not take away their cooperative spirit. In fact, it brought a tide of generosity and giving from individuals, corporations, non-profit groups, and of course, the nation’s REA family. Katrina may have been a 4, but it’s no match for our country’s perseverance, which is most definitely a 10.

There is no doubt that the devastation of Katrina will have a ripple effect on our economy for months to come. Already, we’re seeing gasoline prices that go through the roof. But the bigger hit could be this winter when we see the effect on the natural gas industry. The Energy Department says natural gas prices could rise by more than 70 percent in some places. But price hikes will all depend on how quickly oil rigs and Gulf Coast refineries can be repaired following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Roughly 24 percent of the nation’s natural gas supply comes from the Gulf Coast region. Here in the Midwest, we depend a great deal on the Gulf for natural gas to run power plants and generate electricity. All of the new peaking plants are gas fired and we rely on them to pick up the slack when the heat of summer or the frigid temperatures of winter put a huge demand on our power system.

As the Gulf Coast region inches its way back, the energy sector is keeping a close eye on supply and demand and the resulting prices for heating and electricity. Much of what happens to our heating bills this winter will depend on the amount of snow and cold we get here in Minnesota.

In today’s world we take much for granted, like flipping a light switch to find our way, turning a stove dial to make dinner, or plugging in a computer to send an e-mail. They’re all simple acts that have one thing in common: they can’t happen without electricity. For folks down south, electricity is a cherished and deeply appreciated commodity. And people like Jack and Nordean, who are restoring their power, aren’t just line workers—they’re hometown heroes. You can hear their thankfulness in the voice of people like Mike Bergeaux with ALEC, who in his calm and kind southern drawl told the group of men heading down south, “Thank you guys, from the bottom of our hearts.”

So the next time you flip a switch, remember to say thanks to all of the hardworking men and women of America’s co-op family who keep the power on so life can go on.

Cooperatively yours,

Gerald Mikel
General Manager
Steele-Waseca Cooperative Electric