Graham Visits Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative in Pickens

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today met with leadership and employees at Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative in Pickens, South Carolina.

Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative is a customer-owned electric utility company that has been operating in South Carolina since 1940. Graham is a customer of Blue Ridge.

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Graham gave an update with Blue Ridge President and CEO Jim Lovinggood during his visit.

• LOVINGGOOD: "This storm was historic in every way you choose to measure it. We had about 90 percent of our customers out of power Friday morning at 10:00 AM… So far we've been able to get about 70 percent of those back on. So we're down now to about 30 percent of our customers without power."https://youtu.be/vTY7g3AqZwQ?si=MaDIT-YOP2UWp52C&t=69

• GRAHAM: "This is Hurricane Hugo for the Upstate, if you're old enough to remember that…We got flattened up here, folks. I wanted to come by and thank the co-ops and all the line crew out there and the people working out in the field. You know it's a team sport here." https://youtu.be/vTY7g3AqZwQ?si=5LSZOZI3CNz8NLEa&t=167

• GRAHAM: "Just be patient. The people who are trying to restore your power lost their power. They haven't seen their families, they are out there working 16 to 18-hour days working under very dangerous conditions. So to the extent you can be patient, please do. I know it's frustrating, but the people trying to help you have suffered like you have." https://youtu.be/vTY7g3AqZwQ?si=f_7q90Lk6sX3VLer&t=193

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