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September 14, 2012

LREC offers reward for arrests in cases of substation vandalism

By JOSH NEWTON Staff Writer

TAHLEQUAH — Lake Region Electric Cooperative is working with other cooperatives to offer a $20,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for causing about $1 million in damage to area substations.

LREC’s Chief Executive Officer Hamid Vahdatipour said Thursday that LREC’s board authorized a $10,000 reward, while KAMO Electric Cooperative and Grand River Dam Authority, which also use the substations, are each adding $5,000 to the fund.

Vahdatipour said someone recently used a high-powered rifle to shoot a substation and two breakers on Mud Valley Road. Substation technicians from KAMO found more damage this week at a Hulbert substation.

“[The technician] reported all of our breakers at the Hulbert substation have been shot,” said Vahdatipour. “A close inspection by our crews indicated none of them were rendered inoperative, and they continued to operate. The transformer was also shot, but the bullet did not penetrate the transformer body.”

Damage to the Tahlequah area substation earlier this month left about 2,000 customers without electricity for as long as two hours.

Vahdatipour said inspections are now under way at all 18 substations in the seven counties served by LREC.

Anyone with information about the vandalism is asked to call Cherokee County Undersheriff Jason Chennault at (918) 456-2583 or GRDA Investigator Lissa Brown at (918) 256-0911.

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