Georgia Magazine - November 2023 - 14

Currents
News from Georgia's electric co-ops * Compiled by Amy Schneider
All hands on deck
Cross-training helps Grady EMC in storm recovery
W
hen Hurricane Idalia knocked out
electricity to nearly a third of its 20,000
meters in late August, Cairo-based Grady
Electric Membership Corp. (EMC) was able to
restore service within 24 hours. While mutual-aid
and contract personnel supported the co-op's line
technicians in the field, they got a lot of inside help
from staffers who normally do other jobs, thanks
to Grady EMC's evolving effort to cross-train
employees so that everyone can pitch in to help
in emergencies.
For example, customer service representatives
(CSRs) have worked to learn the language and terms
used by dispatchers in the operations center so that
they can convey vital details about outages that they
get from members who contact the co-op.
" The CSRs continue serving our membership,
but we discovered that they are the first to receive
information regarding outages. Members who call
in will give a specific address and let them know of
situations like a fallen tree, for instance, " said Adam Starr,
manager of marketing and member services. " Now that CSRs
know how to utilize the dispatch system, they put notes
on the map. With this information, a crew can be sent, wellprepared
with an adequate amount of help, the right size of
bucket truck and linemen with the necessary credentials to
work the outage. "
Grady EMC employees in many different job roles also
Grady EMC personnel prepare meals to be delivered to the workers in the field in
the aftermath of Hurricane Idalia.
" They do much more than just drive around. They serve
as quality control and safety managers for those who are
unfamiliar with our system, " Starr said. " They also communicate
with the kitchen crew and delivery drivers to organize meals in
the field so that precious time is not wasted leaving a job site to
look for food. "
Starr said the " all hands on deck " approach has extended
beyond the staff members.
" We have taken this philosophy outside the cooperative; we
support line crews from other cooperatives when they come to
assist with storm recovery.
After Idalia, for example, Judy Rogers, the co-op's human
resources manager, and Jackie Mobley, an accounting clerk,
were enlisted to oversee meal preparation and delivery and
housing. With years of experience in cooking for church events
and at cook-offs, they knew how to make meals for big crowds.
Other employees accompany the mutual-aid crews.
call on family and friends to assist as well, " he said.
The fresh approach to storm recovery has reduced
operational delays, improved efficiency and safety, and led to
quick restoration of service to members. There have been other,
intangible benefits as well, Starr said.
" We feel like this approach has improved not only productivity
but also morale, " he said. " People feel accomplished when
they get to help. "
Groundbreaking technology
Snapping Shoals Electric Membership Corp. (EMC) installed an advanced
vanadium redox flow battery (VRFB) by Stryten Energy at its Covington
headquarters on Aug. 2. The VRFB is designed to improve the long-term
storage of energy generated by renewable sources, such as solar. Snapping
Shoals' system is the first to be manufactured and installed in Georgia. At the
ribbon-cutting ceremony are, from left, U.S. Rep. Mike Collins, Stryten Energy
President and CEO Mike Judd, Snapping Shoals EMC President and CEO Shaun
Mock and Georgia Public Service Commissioner Tim Echols.
14 Georgia Magazine November 2023
COURTESY SNAPPING SHOALS EMC
ADAM STARR / GRADY EMC
Georgia Magazine - November 2023

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