Brookland, Ark. — Craighead Electric Cooperative has postponed planned power outages in Brookland that were initially scheduled for August 11–13, citing concerns about extreme heat and safety risks.
In a statement, the utility explained that the outages were planned several weeks ago to allow crews to replace utility poles while conditions remained dry and favorable for equipment. However, prolonged extreme temperatures prompted the decision to delay the work.
“At the time, we did not anticipate the prolonged extreme temperatures we are now experiencing,” the company stated. “Safety is always our top priority, followed closely by the reliability of the electric system.”
The cooperative emphasized that the heat created additional risks for employees and residents, leading to the postponement. Craighead Electric assured customers that no additional scheduled outages would occur until the heatwave subsides, unless an emergency arises.
The original plan called for outages in specific parts of Brookland between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. daily, with two outages per day, each lasting approximately three hours. Crews needed the power disruptions to safely complete pole replacement work in Brookland, which officials described as having heavily congested underground facilities.
Donnie French, chief operating officer for Craighead Electric, noted that specialized equipment was being used to ensure the work could proceed safely. “The area of Brookland is very congested with underground facilities. So in order for us to put new poles in, we had to use a Vactron in order to safely pull the dirt out of the hole so we can put the new poles in,” French said.
The pole replacement project, which has been underway for several months, is in its final phase. The new poles are expected to enhance power delivery for Brookland, a city that has experienced significant growth in recent years.
Residents were originally notified of the planned outages through a Facebook post from the utility. Craighead Electric encourages customers with questions or concerns to contact its customer service line at 1-800-794-5012.