High winds in western Kansas led to large power outages on August 7. North of Ness City, 60-70 mph wind gusts broke fifty-six poles in Lane-Scott Electric Cooperative’s service territory.  To get the power restored to their members quickly, Lane-Scott requested mutual aid from the surrounding co-ops.

In case of a natural disaster or other extreme circumstances, electric utilities can request additional help from the surrounding cooperatives. Western Cooperative and Victory Electric Cooperative, based out of Dodge City, sent crews to help out our neighbor in need.

Providing mutual aid is an essential part of the 6th Cooperative Principle: Cooperation Among Cooperatives. Cooperatives improve services, bolster local economies, and deal more effectively with social and community needs by working together through local, national, regional, and international structures.

“We know what it is like to have a storm take out a large section of line,”  said Line Superintendent Ron Aschenbrenner, “We help out when we can because there may come a time when we are the ones asking for help.”

Cooperatives around the nation operate according to the same set of core principles and values. These principles are a key reason that America’s electric cooperatives operate differently from other electric utilities, putting the needs of their members first.