Recovery costs exceed $1 million at BrightRidge; focus on serving customers

JOHNSON CITY — Early damage and recovery costs for Hurricane Helene exceed $1 million dollars and rising, BrightRidge directors learned at their regular board meeting Tuesday.

At the height of the storm, more than 33,000 of BrightRidge’s 83,000 electric customers were without power. More than 155,000 feet of conductor wire and 160 utility poles have been replaced, with 112 transformers damaged or destroyed. Of that total, 35 pole and pad-mounted transformers have not yet been located.

“We were prepared, and we reacted because we were ready,” BrightRidge Board of Directors Member Ken Huffine said at the meeting when discussing storm response outcomes.

BrightRidge Chief Financial Officer Brian Bolling told the board that the public power company is well positioned to absorb storm costs, while potential federal or state reimbursements will not be determined until later in the recovery process. Bolling projected total costs will likely approach $1.8 million.

 “I would also point out storm costs tabulated so far do not include contracted labor invoices, so we know that million-dollar figure is going to go up,” Bolling said.

BrightRidge CEO Jeff Dykes noted the critical importance of BrightRidge contractors Pike Electric and Kendall Vegetation Services to the effort, particularly in restoring power lines across five destroyed Nolichucky River crossings.

“I cannot say enough about how incredibly proud our community and our Board of Directors are of the work performed by our BrightRidge team and our contractors,” Dykes said. “This is the most dedicated group of public servants I have ever had the privilege and honor of leading. Our entire team went to work around the clock and did not let up until power was restored.”

BrightRidge has also extended a three-phase circuit across the site of the destroyed Alfred Taylor Bridge on TN Highway 81S to a metering point near the KOA campground that now feeds power to Erwin Utilities customers in the Embreeville, Bumpass Cove and Little Germany communities.