Editorial: Paul Matthys

It was the first official day of summer, and the school break was in full swing. People had plans to head to the lake, go fishing, camping, horseback riding, or catch a baseball or softball game. But many of those plans changed on the evening of Friday, June 20.

Although North Dakota isn’t considered part of Tornado Alley or a high-risk tornado area, we do experience tornadoes along with strong winds, hail, and heavy rain. On June 20, 2025, we faced a significant severe weather event that included a powerful derecho—a long-lasting windstorm accompanied by fast-moving thunderstorms—and several tornadoes. The storms formed in the late afternoon and continued into the night, bringing damaging winds, large hail, and multiple confirmed tornadoes. Tragically, one particularly destructive tornado near Enderlin resulted in fatalities. Our heartfelt condolences go out to the families and friends affected by this tragedy.

Late Friday evening, we began receiving outage calls and alarms through our SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) system, signaling widespread power outages. While line crews were initially dispatched, they were called back due to safety concerns as the severe weather continued sweeping through the area.

We activated our disaster recovery plan early Saturday, June 21. Jodi Bullinger, our Vice President of Engineering and Operations, led the restoration efforts. We called on all 29 of our full-time lineworkers and seven seasonal apprentices, along with many additional employees, to support the restoration process. Those who weren’t trained lineworkers stepped up to patrol power lines for damage assessments, deliver supplies and meals, and develop communications and updates for our members.

Our system suffered extensive damage: countless downed trees, 216 broken poles, and 18 of our 41 distribution substations left without power. In total, 8,485 members were without electricity. Our wholesale power provider, Minnkota Power Cooperative, also experienced significant system-wide damage, with high-voltage transmission structures toppling, causing additional substation outages. While assessments are still ongoing, the total cost of the June 20 storm is expected to be around $1 million.

Throughout the restoration, employee safety remained our highest priority. Thankfully, there were only a few minor injuries and no major equipment damage. During these types of events, we urge everyone to keep safety top of mind. Please avoid approaching or interrupting crews as they work. If you have questions or want to help, contact our office directly. Even if we’re already aware of a power outage in your area, please report it via our website, the CCEC app, or by phone.

A final note: Be prepared for power outages. If you live in a rural area or rely on critical equipment like medical devices, computers, or sump pumps, consider investing in a backup generator or an uninterruptible power supply (UPS). Keep a battery-powered radio for severe weather alerts, have flashlights and extra batteries on hand, and know your shelter location in case of tornadoes or high winds.

Our team takes great pride in their work. One of our highest responsibilities is keeping the lights on and restoring power when they go out. We will always do our best to serve you safely and efficiently.