News

2/26/2009

FEMA Approves Reimbursement for DS&O's 2007 Ice Storm Recovery

Thanks to tireless efforts by area legislators, members of Congress and other officials, DS&O has learned that FEMA has approved reimbursement for repairs from the December 2007 ice storm.

DS&O was one of several electric cooperatives and municipal systems in Kansas struck by the storm which left nearly 60,000 cooperative members without power.

Repairs will help put money into the local economy through the hiring of workers and the purchase of materials. The upgrades to the DS&O system will also benefit consumer-members for years to come.

“We worked together with Kansas Electric Cooperatives, Inc., our statewide association, Kansas state officials and our congressional delegation to address this action by FEMA,” said Donald Hellwig, General Manager of DS&O. “Our main priority is protecting the interest of our members. We are pleased that we were able to reach an agreement with FEMA staff.”

DS&O has hired additional personnel and will add contractors to complete the three-year rebuilding process. There are 111 different repair projects located in eight different counties, including extensive repairs of 315 miles of line. These repairs have an estimated repair cost of $15.4 million.

FEMA’s reimbursement will cover 75% of the cost of repair and replacement, the State of Kansas will cover 10% of the damage, and DS&O will cover 15%, plus the cost of any upgrades or additional mitigation.

“Without the FEMA reimbursement, all of the costs for the needed repairs would have been borne by our members through increased utility rates,” Hellwig said.

The repairs, by county, include:

· Dickinson, 128 miles of line with repair costs estimated at $5,087,300

· Saline, 85 miles with repair costs estimated at $3,212,600

· McPherson, 36 miles with repair costs estimated at $1,390,500

· Ottawa, 27 miles with repair costs estimated at $1,073,000

· Geary, 14 miles with repair costs estimated at $530,000

· Marion, 17 miles with repair costs estimated at $619,800

· Cloud, five miles with repair costs estimated at $197,000

· Morris, three miles with repair costs estimated at $92,500

DS&O Rural Electric Cooperative is a distribution cooperative that serves 8,100 customers throughout nine counties in Kansas. Formed in 1937 and headquartered in Solomon, DS&O understands the critical importance of its role in providing reliable, reasonably-priced services to the customers and communities it serves.

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