August 17 , 2004

Jackson Electric Membership Corporation (EMC) has released 12 of its contractor crews, totaling 65 people, to help restore power to Florida residents following the destruction caused by Hurricane Charley. They are expected to be on assignment in Florida for about two weeks.

"We're proud to be able to lend those folks a hand. Having been through disasters like ice storms and tornados ourselves, we know how important it is to get the power restored as soon as possible," said Jim Smith, Jackson EMC division manager-engineering and operations.

Jackson EMC supplements its regular employee workforce with contractor crews for construction of long-term projects and clearing right-of-way. "While they're technically contractors, they're like employees in every other way and 65 is a significant number of people for our cooperative," Smith explained. "Release of these contractor crews won't affect new service or repair; we will simply delay some long-term work until a later time."

Contractor firms whose employees will be working in Florida include Over and Under General Contractors, Pike Electric Incorporated, Townsend Tree Service and Utility Line Construction Services.

Jackson EMC serves more than 180,000 meters in portions of 10 Northeast Georgia Counties with 427 full-time employees.