Taylor Electric linemen, Geoff Mueller and Tim Habermeyer, traveled north to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula to assist Alger Delta Electric Cooperative Association in late December to restore power following a severe snowstorm. The storm brought heavy snowfall and strong winds, causing widespread power outages. Downed trees and damaged power lines left approximately 5,000 cooperative members without electricity, prompting Alger Delta to request mutual aid through the regional network of electric cooperatives.
Photo courtesy Taylor Electric Cooperative.
Mueller and Habermeyer departed early Monday, December 29. Treacherous road conditions significantly slowed their journey, turning what is normally a four-hour drive into an eight-hour trek. Once on site, the two worked long, demanding days—often into the early morning hours—helping restore power amid deep snow, frigid temperatures, and persistent winds that complicated repair efforts.
As power was steadily restored across Alger Delta’s system, Mueller and Habermeyer wrapped up their assignment and returned to Wisconsin late Thursday evening, January 1.
Sending crews to assist fellow cooperatives is a core part of Taylor Electric’s commitment to the cooperative principle of Cooperation Among Cooperatives—working together to support members and communities when they need it most, no matter the distance or conditions.
ROPE: Cooperation Beyond the Storm
The assistance provided by Taylor Electric linemen in Michigan is part of a much larger cooperative effort known as ROPE—Restoration of Power in an Emergency. Through ROPE, electric cooperatives stand ready to help one another when major storms overwhelm local resources.
That commitment was recently recognized in a letter from Aiken Electric Cooperative in South Carolina following Hurricane Helene in September of 2024. In the letter, CEO Gary Stooksbury thanked visiting crews and their cooperatives for their professionalism, long hours, and unwavering focus on safety, noting that mutual aid support helped restore power to 92% of the system and complete a full rebuild in just 15 days.
Whether responding to a snowstorm in Michigan or a hurricane in the Southeast, ROPE reflects the cooperative principle of Cooperation Among Cooperatives—neighbors helping neighbors, no matter the distance.
Letter from Gary Stooksbury, Aiken Electric Cooperative CEO
There are no words to adequately express our appreciation for the crews you sent to assist Aiken Electric Cooperative restore power to our members following Hurricane Helene.
At the peak of the storm, we had over 49,000 members without power, representing 92% of our system. The hurricane destroyed critical transmission lines in addition to snapping over 1,623 distribution poles, a record‑breaking number for AEC. With 27 of our 29 substations without power, no office communications, and trees and debris impacting our ability to even get to parts of our service territory, it took over 900 individuals to restore power to our members. Your crews, alongside AEC employees, worked tirelessly to complete the restoration and rebuild. This hurricane was powerful and deadly, leaving some areas in our service territory completely destroyed! However, with the help of your crews, our sister cooperatives, contractors, Santee Cooper, and AEC’s employees, we were able to accomplish a complete restoration and rebuild of our electric system in 15 days.
The hours worked were long and exhausting, but everyone worked efficiently, professionally, and most important of all, safely! Your employees were here for us and our membership during our time of need and for that we are extremely grateful! Please accept these commemorative Hurricane Helene hats as a token of our appreciation.
Again, thank you!
Mueller and Habermeyer worked overnight in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula to restore power following a severe snowstorm that brought heavy snowfall, high winds, and widespread outages. Freezing temperatures and limited visibility added to the challenges crews faced while assisting with power restoration efforts.