Alabama’s electric utilities ensure no polling places will be without power due to Zeta on Tuesday

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November 2, 2020

Hurricane Zeta last week ravaged much of Alabama, causing historic damage and power outages akin to Hurricane Katrina and the April 27, 2011, tornadoes.

Since early Thursday morning, Alabama Power Company, PowerSouth Energy Cooperative, other electric cooperatives and municipal electric authorities in the state have been working diligently around the clock to restore service to affected Alabamians.

As of Monday at 2:00 p.m., Alabama Power had restored service to 90% of its affected customers, for example. A peak of 504,000 Alabama Power customers were without service due to Zeta as of early Thursday.

While electric utilities work tirelessly to restore service to each and every residence, business and other entity affected by the severe weather, Election Day will go on as planned throughout the entirety of the state.

In a statement, Secretary of State John H. Merrill explained that Alabama’s tremendous utilities have ensured that all polling places will have power on Tuesday, November 3.

“Following the power outages caused by Hurricane Zeta, electric companies across the State of Alabama have stepped up to see that no polling place is left without power on Election Day,” stated Merrill, the state’s chief elections official.

“After working with our office, Director Brian Hastings of the Alabama Emergency Management Agency, and local election officials to locate polling places without power, Alabama’s electric companies have been accessible and accommodating to see that every eligible voter has the ability to cast his or her ballot tomorrow – either through restoring power or providing generators to areas affected by the hurricane,” he continued.

Merrill added, “We are incredibly appreciative of the efforts of these brave power workers and those who have made themselves available to protect our democracy. Notably, we are grateful to Mark Crosswhite, CEO of Alabama Power, Gary Smith, President of PowerSouth, Fred Braswell, President of Alabama Rural Electric Association, Jeff Lyash, President of Tennessee Valley Authority, and Fred Clark, President of Alabama Municipal Electric Authority.”

Access official Alabama election information here.

Sean Ross is the editor of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn