PUC Services and Cloverland Electric team up for mutual aid following major ice storm
April 10, 2025
Contact: communications@cloverland.com
DAFTER, Mich. & SAULT STE. MARIE, Ont. - In a powerful demonstration of international cooperation, PUC Services Inc. of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario joined forces with Cloverland Electric Cooperative to restore power to more than 10,000 members following a devastating ice storm that swept through Michigan’s Eastern Upper Peninsula on Sunday, March 30. With widespread outages affecting numerous utilities across Northern Michigan, mutual aid crews were in high demand and difficult to secure.
“This level of cross-border collaboration highlights the true spirit of mutual aid in our industry. Cloverland's unique geography, including our proximity to the Canadian border and reliance on the Mackinac Bridge for access to Lower Peninsula resources, often presents logistical challenges in large-scale outages,” said Cloverland President and CEO, Mike Heise. “With the bridge closed and many Michigan utilities facing catastrophic damage, securing mutual aid was particularly difficult. We are incredibly grateful for the immediate support from PUC Services—it made all the difference in accelerating our restoration efforts.”
The cross-border support from PUC Services proved critical to reduce outage numbers by 50% within a couple days. Crews worked alongside Cloverland’s teams during the most intensive phase of restoration, helping clear damage and rebuild infrastructure before being released on Thursday, April 3 to respond to restoration needs in Southern Ontario.
“PUC has been a utility for more than a century and throughout that time, northern Michigan has always been our neighbour,” said Robert Brewer, President and CEO of PUC Services Inc. “When the call for assistance came, our powerline technicians responded without hesitation. Their professionalism and dedication embodied the values we stand for, and we’re proud to support our neighbours in their time of need.”
The combined efforts of more than 70 linemen and support personnel included crews from PUC Services Inc., CC Power, UPPCO, and Marquette Board of Light & Power alongside four vegetation management crews from Davey Tree Company. This support for Cloverland’s crews across five divisions enabled swift restoration despite challenges such as downed trees and fuel shortages. By April 3, service had been restored to nearly all Cloverland members except inaccessible seasonal island locations.
Cloverland Electric remains on standby to offer mutual aid assistance to neighboring utilities when the need arises. Members are encouraged to stay informed through Cloverland’s Facebook page and website, which features a Storm Safety Center with real-time updates, preparation tips, and outage information.
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Cloverland Electric Cooperative delivers safe, reliable, and affordable energy to 43,000 meters across five rural counties in Michigan’s Eastern Upper Peninsula. With 4,000 miles of line, Cloverland locally operates Sault Ste. Marie’s historic hydroelectric plant, which helps generate about 30% of the co-op’s power. Combined with hydro power from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at the Soo Locks, renewable energy makes up 40-50% of Cloverland’s fuel mix.
For more information, contact: Allie Brawley, Cloverland’s Director of Communications and Member Relations - 906-203-0838 or communications@cloverland.com