Beltrami Electric Cooperative’s outage map reflected zero members without power early this morning—marking a significant milestone in what has been one of the most challenging and grueling restoration efforts in recent memory.
BEC’s dedicated line crews, along with lineworkers from five neighboring cooperatives—our #StormSoldiers—can now return home to spend time with their families and begin cleaning up the damage left behind at their own homes.
Over the past seven days, the cooperative restored power to more than 19,000 members who lost service following a devastating storm that swept through the region. More than 90% of the co-op’s rural distribution system was affected.
The storm caused widespread destruction, including an estimated 80 broken poles, along with damage to transformers and other essential equipment. While all members have been restored, the cooperative faces weeks of follow-up repair work to fully address the lasting impact.
The co-op is also keeping an eye on the sky with the potential for more severe thunderstorms and high winds this weekend. Trees and root systems weakened by last weekend’s storm remain a concern, as those near power line corridors may fall or cause additional damage if disturbed by new weather events.
Members are also reminded that lightning strikes near underground lines can lead to underground faults (outages), which may not surface until days or even weeks after a storm has passed.
For real-time updates on outages and restoration efforts, visit our outage map at www.beltramielectric.com or click here: Web Outage Viewer. Members who need to report an outage can call 1-800-955-6083. Our after-hours call center is staffed 24/7.
For those in need of assistance, please reach out to the United Way of Bemidji Area, which is helping coordinate disaster relief efforts across Beltrami County. Visit their website at: https://www.unitedwaybemidji.org/disaster-recovery
About Beltrami Electric Cooperative
Beltrami Electric is a not-for-profit community-focused electric cooperative created to efficiently deliver affordable, reliable and sustainable energy to more than 18,500 homes, businesses, farms and schools. Beltrami Electric Cooperative is led by, and belongs to, the communities we serve.