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A year after winter storms paralyzed Mississippi, PSC calls for upgrades to aging utilities

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A year after winter storms paralyzed Mississippi, PSC calls for upgrades to aging utilities

On the of Valentine's Day, 2021, winter storms Uri and Viola incapacitated utilities in Mississippi and across the country. Southern cities and utility companies were especially unprepared, lacking shelter for their distribution systems that left customers without water and powers for extended periods after the storms.

In preparing for the possibility of more frequent winter storms, Mississippi's Public Service Commission on Thursday released the results of a year-long investigation into the 's public utility . The PSC regulates rates and services from telecommunications, electric, gas, and sewer utilities, but has no authority for appropriating funds to those utilities.

“One year ago this week, Mississippi was in the grip of historic winter storms,” Central District Public Service Commissioner Brent Bailey said. “The combination of freezing rain, snow and days of below freezing temperatures brought road travel to a halt, caused nearly 200,000 customers to lose power, caused more than 80 water systems to have low or no water pressure, and some telecommunications were even disrupted.

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“For a few days it seemed almost as if the entire state was paralyzed.”

In the wide-ranging , which also looked at recent damages from hurricanes, thunderstorms and tornadoes, the PSC looked at the most common vulnerabilities among utilities and ways to address them.

Although the report didn't include specific amounts, it did recommend more proactive communication between lawmakers and utilities to discuss mitigation investments. Between the American Rescue Plan Act and the Infrastructure Bills, Bailey said lawmakers could help upgrade aging systems, especially water and sewer plants.

The state health department reported that 79 water utilities issued boil water notices after last year's winter storms. Municipal water and sewer plants suffer from a range of issues, such as old piping and pump stations, and a lack of maintenance. Rural water associations have reported undersized water lines, and aging treatment plants and wells. According to a presentation to lawmakers, Mississippi's average water system loss from ruptures and leaks is 35%, to 18% nationally.

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As far as specific fixes, the PSC's recommendations include:

  • Utilities adopting and updating emergency response plans
  • Better vegetation management, using technology such as drones or satellites to identify where to trim trees that could fall onto power lines
  • Replacing wood utility poles with steel or concrete
  • Creating fuel redundancy and diversity, which would include exploring options for increasing natural gas storage, as well as evaluating the feasibility of alternative fuel sources. A majority of Mississippi's energy consumption from natural gas, which was in limited supply during the storm.
  • Collaborating with other state agencies to enforce weatherization standards for water and wastewater plants

This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

Mississippi News

Mostly clear through Easter weekend – Home – WCBI TV

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www.wcbi.com – Ashleigh Bryant – 2024-03-28 18:26:14

SUMMARY: Clear conditions are expected to continue through the end of the in Columbus, Mississippi. Temperatures will drop into the 30s on Thursday night with possible patchy frost. Friday will bring more sunshine with high temperatures in the low to middle 70s. The will see temperatures pushing towards 80 degrees with no rain expected. Next week, warm and humid will flow into the Deep South, with a of scattered showers and thunderstorms on Tuesday. It is still uncertain if these storms will be severe, but it is being monitored closely.

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Mississippi News

Women-led organization hosts workshop at Yokohama

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www.wcbi.com – Eric Lampkin – 2024-03-28 17:57:25

SUMMARY: Yokohama's Point plant hosted a workshop called “Pathways to Financial Wellness” organized by WHEELS, a group empowering women in supervision. Dr. Becky Smith led discussions on various financial topics, emphasizing the importance of understanding financial behaviors and setting realistic goals. Yokohama focuses on empowering individuals holistically to improve overall quality. The Human Resources Director highlighted the company's efforts to opportunities for employees to enhance their work and professional lives. The workshop aimed to women gain better control over their personal, , and work-related finances. The holistic approach taken by Yokohama ties financial well-being to overall personal .

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Mississippi News

USDA issues disaster designation for all Mississippi counties

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www.wjtv.com – Delesha – 2024-03-28 16:43:41

SUMMARY: All counties in Mississippi have been designated as USDA disaster due to the 2023 drought, making farmers eligible for Farm Service Agency Loan Assistance. This emergency loan can be used to offset losses from the previous year's drought, such as hay or equipment. Despite the good growing season for ryegrass, many farmers have depleted their hay reserves. Farmers in Mississippi have an eight-month window to apply for the loan. This assistance aims to farmers recover from the drought and ensure adequate resources for the upcoming year.

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