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003: Surviving 2023: Tornadoes, Derechos, and a Global Crisis to Boot
06/24/2025
003: Surviving 2023: Tornadoes, Derechos, and a Global Crisis to Boot
2023 was supposed to be a manageable year for SCI-REMC. Instead, it became a masterclass in crisis management when two of the worst weather events in the co-op's history struck within three months of each other. In this episode, James Tanneberger walks us through the devastating tornado outbreak in late March that left 12,000 members without power, followed by an even more destructive derecho in June that knocked out service to over half their territory – 18,000 members – in just 10 minutes. But Mother Nature wasn't finished: the global energy crisis triggered by the Russia-Ukraine war simultaneously drove wholesale power costs through the roof, forcing rate increases after a decade of stable pricing. James shares the tactical details of managing 36 restoration crews simultaneously, the critical role of "bird dogs" and damage assessors, and why sometimes the fastest way to restore power is to resist the urge to rush into dangerous conditions. He reveals how $30 million in underground line investments paid dividends during the crisis and why the co-op now views these catastrophic events as proof they can handle anything. Beyond the operational lessons, this episode explores how extreme adversity can forge organizational resilience and why thinking "outside the box" isn't just a business strategy – it's survival for modern electric cooperatives facing an increasingly unpredictable world.
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