Paris, Tenn.–At Tuesday’s meeting of the Paris Utility Authority Board of Directors, CEO Terry Wimberley announced the utility has now been declared eligible for FEMA Public Assistance for the December 10 tornadoes that caused widespread damage to the electric system.
In his President’s report, Wimberley addressed outages from the Friday, February 10 ice storm that affected customers primarily in the northern half of the electric system. Power restoration was complete on Saturday evening with the help of crews from Benton County Electric System and Bolivar Energy Authority.
Wimberley reported positive net incomes in both the Water and Wastewater Departments while the Electric Department showed a negative net income of $419,000.
During January, the utility purchased cold weather kilowatt hours while booking sales for the mild December weather resulting in the net loss for the month.
The employee guest for the February meeting was Greg Crouch. Crouch hired in with PUA in 2014 as a right-of-way laborer and moved to the Meter Department in 2016 where he has worn many hats. For the last four years, he has served as Meter Department Supervisor. Wimberley noted that Crouch is a “jack of all trades and his diverse skills and talents are a valuable asset to the utility”.
The next meeting of the Board will take place Monday, March 21, 2022 instead of the normal fourth Tuesday in order to accommodate a scheduling conflict.
Photo: Power lines down after the tornado swept through Lampkins Rd. in the Cottage Grove area December 10. Shannon McFarlin photo.