On Monday, July 8, just on the tail of a holiday weekend, Hurricane Beryl blew through Houston, Texas. It was forecasted to simply come ashore as a tropical storm, and projected to hit much farther west, but the storm instead swept through the fourth largest city as a category 1 hurricane. It caused damage Houston hasn’t seen since Hurricane Ike in 2008.

While the storm was still actively causing damage, Sumter Utilities crews were mobilizing to head west and assist with restoration efforts. More than 130 Sumter linemen answered the call, and spent a week or more restoring power for communities in need. The damage was extensive, and the repairs will continue for weeks to come, but as more and more Houstonians got their power back and finally got some relief from the heat, the kind words of thanks started pouring in via our website and Facebook pages.

We’re grateful for the opportunity to help communities in need, but it’s always encouraging and helpful to receive such positive feedback from the people we help. 

June 14, 2024

On Wednesday, May 29th, Sumter Utilities deployed 250 linemen to Dallas, Texas, and 50 to Kentucky to aid in storm restoration efforts.

Multiple storms severely impacted these regions, with extreme wind speeds and hail leaving thousands of residents without power. Sumter Utilities’ swift and decisive response was instrumental in restoring electricity to the affected areas.

Sumter Utilities is proud to support the Texas and Kentucky communities in their time of need and is committed to supporting customers and restoring power during storm season.

Each year, Sumter Utilities honors exemplary employees with the President’s Safety Professional of the Year award. Crews who complete all four quarters of the year with zero safety incidents become eligible and are then selected by leadership for going above and beyond in their attention to safety.

This year’s banquet was held on May 30 in Columbia, South Carolina, and included dinner, dancing, and an award presentation. Honorees were invited, along with their spouses and partners, to celebrate their achievements. In total, 48 employees were honored, although a number of them were not able to celebrate since they had been called away to work storms in Texas and Tennessee.

Our 2023 Safety Professionals of the Year are: 

Thomas J Crain, Foreman

Adam D Davis, A-Lineman

Dylan B Lewis, B-Lineman

Joshua T Jackson, C-Lineman

William O Parnell, Foreman

Christopher G Langston, Truck Driver

Wyatt L Parnell, Groundman

Justin L Hoglen, Foreman

Nathan L Ferguson, A-Lineman

Jeffrey H Parris, A-Lineman

Charles M Hardee, Foreman

Patrick R Sott, Crew Leader

Joseph G Gasque, A-Lineman

Bryant Geathers, A-Lineman

Tommy G Singleton, Foreman

Mason A Lyall, C-Lineman

On April 27, 2024, a team from Sumter Utilities participated in the annual 5K-Aden race in Columbia, SC. The race is an event held in support of the Jordan Thomas Foundation, a 501c3 that helps kids get the prostheses they need to lead healthy and active lives. The annual 5K-Aden race is actually named after the stepson of Sumter Utilities President, Derek O’Bradovich, who lost his leg in a boating accident several years ago.

Sumter was proud to sponsor the race again this year, and to show our support by gathering a team of employees and friends to run the 5K. The weather was beautiful, spirits were high, and thousands of dollars were raised in support of this incredible mission.

Kaden’s incredible positivity and engagement with the Jordan Thomas Foundation even got some attention in the news! Take a look at this great interview he did with his new friend Carson.

It’s never too late to show your support for the Jordan Thomas Foundation, and to help other kids who have experience an amputation. Learn more here. 

Earlier this month, Liberty STEAM Charter School invited Sumter Utilities to participate in their first annual Workforce Development Day, and we happily obliged! The initiative sought to partner each class of 3rd grade students, or “scholars,” with companies from around Sumter, SC to learn about various careers available to them. Industry representatives join the scholars for an entire day and worked through two projects, both focused on the goal of limiting exposure to harmful UV rays while they played outside.

The first project was to design a shelter that would block UV rays on the playground. Every class completed this project, and saw how their knowledge of science, technology, engineering, arts, and math could combine to have a real impact in their day to day life.

The second project was led by Training Instructor Mitch Johnson, and gave insight into the utility industry, specifically. The Sumter Utilities scholars worked in teams to create power poles that utilized a working switch and a light. If applied to their real life, this design would allow scholars to play outside even as the sun was setting, giving them more playtime with less UV exposure.

Our scholars were insightful, curious, and so fun to spend the day with. Mitch spoke to the class at length, and answered their many questions! He even had the chance to demonstrate some of our PPE with a Board Member volunteer and show off a bucket truck.

 We found out a few days after our visit that our team was the winner of the challenge!

A huge thank you to Liberty STEAM charter school for the invitation, and for helping train up the next generation of curious and intelligent young people.