Beauregard Electric Cooperative, Inc. on Alert
Beauregard Electric Cooperative, Inc. (BECi) is keeping a close eye
on Hurricane Isidore and is gearing up for the possibility of a major
storm system hitting Southwest Louisiana.
All BECi crews are on standby said Mike Pigott, manager of BECi. "Hurricanes
are typically very unpredictable," Pigott said. "That's one
of the reasons why we have already started emergency preparations."
BECi officials began preparations last week and have continued to
work with its statewide association, the Association of Louisiana Electric
Cooperatives (ALEC) located in Baton Rouge, to stay abreast of the latest
weather situation.
BECi serves more than 35,000 consumers in seven parishes. "When
a major storm such as Hurricane Isidore looks as though it would affect
service to our consumers, numerous departments take action according
to BECi's Emergency Preparedness Plan," Pigott said.
- Storeroom personnel take inventories of supplies on hand and purchasing
department personnel locate stocks of extra poles, crossarms, transformers,
wire, etc.
- Customer accounting employees prepare to staff phone banks to handle
calls from consumers.
- Contractors and out of state crews are contacted and are on standby
in case we need to call them in.
- Operations center personnel in New Roads, La. prepare to monitor
damage to the BECi system using the latest in computerized technology.
"We're doing everything we can at this time to prepare for the
worst," Pigott stated. "Perhaps the most important tip BECi
can pass on to its consumers is that proper planning begins with awareness
of the dangers and effects of a hurricane. Don't be caught off guard."
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