MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1999 Regular Session

To: Rules

By: Senator(s) Robertson, Dickerson, Cuevas, Gollott, Hewes, Lee, Moffatt, Woodfield

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING AND COMMENDING COAST ELECTRIC POWER ASSOCIATION, PEARL RIVER VALLEY ELECTRIC POWER ASSOCIATION, SINGING RIVER ELECTRIC POWER ASSOCIATION, DIXIE ELECTRIC POWER ASSOCIATION, MISSISSIPPI POWER COMPANY, ENTERGY MISSISSIPPI, AND ALL OTHER ELECTRIC POWER ASSOCIATIONS IN MISSISSIPPI FOR THEIR QUICK RESPONSE AND RESTORATION OF SERVICE FOLLOWING THE MASSIVE DESTRUCTION AND POWER OUTAGES CAUSED BY HURRICANE GEORGES.

WHEREAS, Hurricane Georges caused over $310 Million in damage to the Mississippi Gulf Coast, and caused $2.5 Billion in insured damages to homes, businesses and other property in the United States, making it the third costliest hurricane on record; and

WHEREAS, Hurricane Georges knocked out power to nearly a quarter of a million customers along the Mississippi Coast, and took a huge toll on the infrastructure of power providers, and

WHEREAS, electric power association officials compared the magnitude of Hurricane Georges' destruction in south Mississippi to the ice storm of 1994 which struck north Mississippi, estimated the cost to electric power associations at more than $75 Million and reported that 154,250 EPA customers were without power at the peak of the storm; and

WHEREAS, in the face of this destruction the following Mississippi Gulf Coast Electric Power Associations and utility companies mobilized linemen and all other personnel for restoration of service and repair of infrastructure: Coast Electric Power Association in Bay St. Louis, Pearl River Valley Electric Power Association in Columbia, Singing River Electric Power Association in Lucedale, Dixie Electric Power Association in Laurel and Mississippi Power Company in Gulfport; and

WHEREAS, due to the magnitude of the storm, these crews were forced to request assistance from the following associations and contractors: Entergy Corporation, Alcorn County EPA, Central EPA, Coahoma EPA, Delta EPA, East Mississippi EPA, 4-County EPA, Magnolia EPA, Monroe County EPA, Natchez Trace EPA, North East Mississippi EPA, Northcentral Mississippi EPA, Pontotoc EPA, Prentiss County EPA, Southern Pine EPA, Southwest Mississippi EPA, Tallahatchie Valley EPA, Tippah EPA, Tishomingo County EPA, Tombigbee EPA, Twin County EPA, Yazoo Valley EPA and numerous power associations, utilities and contractors from surrounding states; and

WHEREAS, this massive well-organized "call center" response to restore customer power was implemented without regard to cost or expense to the provider, and regulatory officials pronounced the response time and the human effort as commendable; and

WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize the monumental effort of each lineman and crew member participating in this operation which was the best example of Mississippians and their neighbors helping other Mississippians at great sacrifice:

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby recognize and commend Coast Electric Power Association, Pearl River Valley Electric Power Association, Singing River Electric Power Association, Dixie Electric Power Association, Mississippi Power Company, Entergy Mississippi, and all other Electric Power Associations and contractors in Mississippi and surrounding states for their quick response and restoration of service following the massive destruction and power outages caused by Hurricane Georges, and their total dedication to the public.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be forwarded to the Electric Power Associations of Mississippi for distribution to the General Manager of each EPA in Mississippi, and to the President of Mississippi Power Company and the President of Entergy Mississippi, and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.