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4/1/23 @ 6:33 am | Your cooperative is currently experiencing normal energy demand. No special energy saving measures are necessary.
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December derecho knocks out power to members

Monday | December 20, 2021
All News

     The unseasonal derecho that tore through the sate of Iowa on December 15, 2021 was not the first time Prairie energy employees have dealt with a winter storm, but it was the first time your cooperative has set a record for number of outages. 
     "Out of 5,200 total meters on Prairie's lines, at the peak of damage almost 40 percent were without power. That's around 2,099 meters across our 4,200 members," said CEO Tim Marienau. "These members included residential houses but also ag businesses like poultry and hog facilities and large co-ops like Gold Eagle and NEW Cooperative. The areas around Vincent, Duncombe, Stratford, Lehigh, Belmond, and Lake Cornelia were the hardest hit, but we had outages and damages system wise. The substations in these areas were the hardest hit as well. Corn Belt lost miles upon miles of transmission lines."
     Restoration efforts began as the storm dissipated the night of December 15th, and reports of outages and damages came rolling into the office that continued throughout the night into the following days. Prairie Energy crews worked nonstop to restore power to all members along with aid from Legacy Power Line and Highline Construction, both out of Minnesota. Final restorations were completed around 7 p.m. on Friday, December 17th. 
     "The employees of Prairie are a dedicated group when faced with a storm of this magnitude. They roll up their sleeves and restore power as safely and as quickly as possible. The members of Prairie Energy should be proud of the effort put forth by their dependable linemen and staff," said Butch Norem, Director of Operations/Engineering. 
     The employees and board of Prairie Energy would like to thank the membership for their patience and understanding during the December derecho. 

 

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Prairie Energy Cooperative 
2099 Hwy 3
P.O. Box 353
Clarion, IA 50525

Outages: 800-728-0013
Office: 515-532-2805

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About Us

Prairie Energy is an electric distribution cooperative spanning over 11 counties in north central Iowa. We are owned and controlled by the rural members we serve. 

 

©2023 Prairie Energy Cooperative. All Rights Reserved.

  • Home
  • About Us
    • About Prairie Energy Cooperative
    • Board of Directors
    • Employees
    • Our Energy Sources
    • About Touchstone Energy
    • The 7 Cooperative Principles
    • Careers
    • Articles of Incorporation
    • Bylaws
  • My Account
    • General Billing Information
    • Patronage & Allocation
    • Understanding Your Electric Bill
    • SmartHub FAQs
    • Pay my Bill
      • Pay Online with SmartHub
      • Payment Options
    • Payment Assistance
      • LIHEAP
      • RECare
  • Energy Solutions
    • 101 Ways to Save
    • Rebates
    • Electric Water Heaters
    • Private Outdoor Lights
    • Energy Assessment
  • Community & News
    • News
      • Prairie Energy Newsletter
      • Iowa Electric Cooperative Living Magazine
      • 2022 Annual Meeting
    • Community
      • Economic Development
      • Youth Tour
      • Scholarships
      • Homeward, Inc.
  • Outages & Safety
    • Outage Tools
      • Report an Outage
      • Iowa Outage Map
      • Prairie Energy Outage Map
      • Storm Safety
    • Electrical Safety
      • Iowa One Call
      • Power Line Safety
      • Grain Bin Clearances
      • Stray Voltage Guide
      • Safety Checklist
      • Safety Quiz
  • Solar
    • Community Solar
    • Solar Array Output
  • Contact Us