In mid-December, motorists on Hwy. 331 S. in Freeport were stopped after a semi-truck caught a fiber optic cable, resulting in a broken pole and wires. What could have been a dangerous situation was quickly brought under control by the quick response from the Walton County Sheriff’s Office and CHELCO’s Energy Control Center. The accident left more than 1,800 members without power, but power was restored within 30 minutes.

“The coordinated efforts of the deputies, control center operators and field crews turned what could have been a disaster into a demonstration of quick thinking and teamwork,” said Matthew Avery, CHELCO SVP of Engineering and Operations.