A MESSAGE FROM YOUR GENERAL MANAGER/CEO

GARY RAYBON

Cooperative Spirit Shines During Hurricane Beryl

In the early morning hours of July 8, 2024, Hurricane Beryl began making its way across our service territory. As the sun came up it left over 6,300 of Wharton County Electric Cooperative’s meters in the dark. The storm caused more damage to our system than any other weather event in recent memory.

Even before the storm blew through, your WCEC Home Team was in action to begin the restoration process. Our member services and administrative departments began answering the phones while our line crews, and engineering and IT/metering departments began riding out lines to assess the damage. As soon as travel was safe, contract crews arrived along with a team from Texas Electric Cooperatives with materials and supplies.

We operated under this storm mode from July 8-12 adding over 50 line workers and 40 trucks to our restoration efforts by Tuesday. Most of our employees worked 16-hour days with those out in the field operating from sun up to sun down. Our mutual aid crews remained through the weekend to help with additional repairs after all meters had been restored.

The fact that we had over 95% of our members in the dark immediately after Beryl and had restored power to all but a handful by Thursday is a testament to the dedication of your WCEC Home Team and our ongoing maintenance programs.

Throughout it all, we received numerous donations from our membership and communities of snacks, drinks, and sweets. We also received countless words of kindness, expressions of support and encouragement, and prayers for safety.

I am always proud to be a part of the cooperative world, but especially so during times of hardship. When we come together for the betterment of everyone, great things can happen. Watching our WCEC team, the board of directors, and our mutual aid crews dedicate themselves to restoring every last meter and the encouragement they received from our membership has truly reminded me of what the Cooperative Difference is all about.

The outpouring of support from our members, vendors, fellow co-ops, community, and friends allowed our restoration efforts to be completed in an amazingly short amount of time. Words can never express how grateful we are for all of you!