Basin Electric members experience catastrophic damage during June storm

Basin Electric members in eastern Montana and western North Dakota suffered catastrophic damage during summery storms June 10-11.

McCone Electric Cooperative, a Basin Electric Class C member headquartered in Circle, Montana, lost more than 315 poles, according to Rex Sikveland.

During a public service announcment on June 14, McCone Electric CEO Michael Hoy asked members to conserve energy because two substations were doing the work of three substations. "The addition of air conditioning loads will trip off the substations if everyone turns on their AC in the next two days. We're asking that everyone please pre-cool your home overnight and turn off your AC from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. today and tomorrow," he said during the annnouncment. "We know this is a big ask but if everybody does their part, the power should stay on. ... We appreciate everyone's patience, and through cooperatives helping cooperatives, we are getting the job done."

Seventy people, including cooperative employees and contractors, worked to rebuild 30 miles of line. In one Facebook post, the co-op says, "There was a half year's work accomplished in one week. Please thank a lineman!"

At Lower Yellowstone Electric Cooperative, a Basin Electric Class C member headquartered in Sidney, Montana, more than 300 poles were damaged. Lower Yellowstone CEO Jason Brothen called the storm "one of the worst we have been through in many years. It has been reported to us that some areas of our system had winds in excess of 100+ miles per hour."

Local cooperatives helped out the Lower Yellowstone crews to bring power back to all members. "The Cooperation Among Cooperatives principal has been in full display this past week!" the co-op said in a Facebook post.

Mountrail-Williams Electric Cooperative, a Basin Electric Class C member headquartered in Williston, North Dakota, had 54 poles damaged.