COUNTRY LINES
WATERFURNACE UNITS QUALIFY
Lasting is believing.
When you pay good money for something, you think it should last. We agree. Especially when it’s your family’s comfort.
The lifespan of even the most expensive conventional a/c is just 15-18 years. With a WaterFurnace geothermal unit, you can expect a lifespan of 25 years—sometimes even more. Plus, the life expectancy of the underground infrastructure is at least double that. Longer unit life means less cost to you and less waste in our landfills. And that makes WaterFurnace the better choice.
Geothermal is the only renewable that provides reliable operation 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
YOUR LOCAL WATERFURNACE DEALERS
Allendale
Allendale Htg & Clg (800) 327-1937 allendaleheating.com
Berrien Springs WaterFurnace Michiana (269) 473-5667 gogreenmichgeo thermal.com
Big Rapids
Stratz Htg & Clg, Inc. (231) 796-3717 stratzgeocomfort.com
Filion/Bad Axe Air-O-Dynamic Htg & Clg (989) 582-0137 aod-hvac.com
Grand Rapids
Bel Aire Htg & Clg 1-888-235-2473 belaire.com
Hart Adams Htg & Clg (231) 873-2665 adamsgeothermal-mi.com
Holland G.H.P. Systems Inc. (616)396-5833 ghpsystems-inc.com
Indian River M&M Plmb & Htg (231)238-7201 mm-plumbing.com
Lansing Candor Mechanical (517)920-0890 candormechanical.com
Michigan Center Comfort 1/Air Serv of Southern Michigan (517)764-1500 airserv.com/southernmichigan/
Mt Pleasant Walton Htg & Clg (989)772-4822 waltonheating.com
Portage Bel Aire Htg & Clg 1-888-235-2473 belaire.com
Portland ESI Htg & Clg (517)647-6906 esiheating.com
Sunfield
Mark Woodman Plmb & Htg (517) 886-1138 mwphonline.com
Three Rivers Bel Aire Htg & Clg 1-888-235-2473 belaire.com
Traverse City Geofurnace Htg & Clg (231)943-1000 geofurnace.com
CO-OP REBATE INCENTIVES
Alger Delta Electric: up to $2,000
Cherryland Electric: up to $2,500
Cloverland: up to $6,275
Great Lakes Energy: up to $5,000
Homeworks/Tri-County Electric: up to $4,750
Presque Isle Electric & Gas Co-op: up to $4,750
Thumb Electric: up to $2,000
EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Casey Clark
EDITOR: Christine Dorr
GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Karreen Bird
RECIPE EDITOR: Christin Russman
COPY EDITOR: Yvette Pecha
CONTRIBUTING EDITOR: Emily Haines Lloyd
PUBLISHER: Michigan Electric Cooperative Association
Michigan Country Lines, USPS591-710, is published monthly, except August and December, with periodicals postage paid at Lansing, Mich., and additional offices. It is the official publication of the Michigan Electric Cooperative Association, 201 Townsend St., Suite 900, Lansing, MI 48933.
Subscriptions are authorized for members of Alger Delta, Cherryland, Great Lakes, HomeWorks Tri-County, Midwest Energy & Communications, Ontonagon, Presque Isle, and Thumb electric cooperatives by their boards of directors.
POSTMASTER:
Send all UAA to CFS.
ASSOCIATION OFFICERS:
Chris O’Neill, HomeWorks TriCounty Cooperative, chairman; Gabe Schneider, Cherryland Electric Cooperative, vice chairman; Shaun Lamp, Great Lakes Energy Cooperative, secretary-treasurer; John Kran, president and CEO.
CONTACT US/LETTERS TO EDITOR:
Michigan Country Lines 201 Townsend St., Suite 900 Lansing, MI 48933 248-534-7358
editor@countrylines.com
CHANGE OF ADDRESS: Please notify your electric cooperative. See page 4 for contact information.
The appearance of advertising does not constitute an endorsement of the products or services advertised.
Michigan Country Lines, Your Communications Partner
For more than 40 years, our co-op members have received Michigan Country Lines because it is the most effective and economical way to share information. Michigan Country Lines keeps members up-to-date about everything going on within their electric co-op. Issues contain news about co-op services, director elections, member meetings, and management decisions that members need to know about as owners of the co-op. The magazine also includes legal notices that would otherwise have to be placed in local media at a substantial cost. Sending Michigan Country Lines helps the co-op fulfill one of its essential principles—to educate and communicate openly with its members. The board of directors authorizes the co-op to subscribe to Michigan Country Lines on behalf of each member at an average cost of $4.43 per year, paid as part of members’ electric bills. The current magazine cost is 56 cents per copy. Michigan Country Lines is published, at cost, by the Michigan Electric Cooperative Association in Lansing. As always, we welcome your comments at editor@meca.coop.
MI CO-OP Community
RECIPE CONTEST
See details on page 10. Best Potato Dishes, due July 1. Win a $100 bill credit!
GUEST COLUMN
Share your fondest memories and stories. Win $200 for stories published!
MYSTERY PHOTO
See details on page 18. Win a $100 bill credit!
To enter contests, submit reader content & more, visit countrylines.com/community
6 CELEBRATING THE MAGICAL NORTHERN MICHIGAN MOREL SEASON
An annual springtime festival in Boyne City offers foraging, feasting, and festivities.
10 MI CO-OP KITCHEN
Mushroom Masterpieces: Savor the earthy goodness of these mushroom recipes.
14 RESTORING POWER, REBUILDING TOGETHER
After a historic ice storm, co-ops and communities rallied to restore power— and hope—across Northern Michigan.
18 NO BARRIERS WARRIORS
Applications now being accepted for No Barriers outdoor adventures.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Sandy Borowicz, Chairperson
231-627-9220 • Term Expires 2027
Daryl Peterson, Vice Chairperson
989-742-3145 • Term Expires 2027
Sally Knopf, Secretary
989-734-4196 • Term Expires 2027
Brentt Lucas, Treasurer
989-766-3678 • Term Expires 2025
John Brown
231-625-2099 • Term Expires 2026
Kurt Krajniak
989-884-3037 • Term Expires 2025
Chris Nagel
616-240-8727 • Term Expires: 2026
Gerald Smigelski
989-306-3750 • Term Expires 2026
Raymond Wozniak
989-766-2498 • Term Expires 2025
President & CEO: Allan Berg aberg@pieg.com
Co-op Editor: Sommer Poquette spoquette@pieg.com
Presque Isle Electric & Gas Co-op 3149 Main Street (M-211) Onaway, MI 49765
Business Office & Billing: 989-733-8515
Toll-Free: 800-423-6634
Gas Emergency Toll-Free: 800-655-8565 Presque Isle Electric & Gas Co-op is an
Stronger Together: Community Resilience After the Storm
By Allan Berg, President & CEO
We have just endured the storm of a century. It wasn’t a thunderstorm, a hurricane, or a blizzard—it was an unprecedented collision of trees and ice. Northern Michigan’s forests normally define our landscape, but when a sheet of ice coats every branch, those trees become a formidable threat. Over the past weeks, all of us have learned firsthand what that combination can do to a community.
The morning after, many of us stepped outside to find downed trees and branches blocking driveways and roads. Neighbors traded greetings over the buzz of chainsaws as we cleared paths to our homes, our workplaces and, most importantly, toward a plan for recovery.
In the face of this destruction, we persevered. Employees, crews from across the country, volunteers, community leaders, and emergency responders and the families who supported them; rallied to repair our electric grid and restore power across Northeast Michigan. Their commitment was extraordinary.
Our mission was clear: restore power to every member, and never at the expense of safety. We balanced crew assignments carefully and upheld strict safety procedures throughout the effort. More than 1,400 dedicated men and women worked in the field on your behalf, rebuilding the network span by span, from pole to pole.
This storm will be remembered in the history books, but it will also be remembered for the resilience it revealed. To every member, who endured days, sometimes weeks, without power, thank you for your patience and understanding. We came together as a community, overcame this challenge as a community, and we will emerge stronger together.
“To every member who endured days, sometimes weeks, without power, thank you for your patience and understanding.”
Celebrating the Magical Northern Michigan Morel Season
Every spring, a charming lakeside Michigan town gathers to celebrate the marvelous morel mushrooms. For more than 60 years, those merry for morels have traveled far and wide to Boyne City, Michigan, for the National Morel Mushroom Festival.
Held annually on the weekend after Mother’s Day, the National Morel Mushroom Festival is a one-of-akind event, drawing hundreds of mushroom hunters and food lovers from all corners of the country. During this four-day, fungi-fi lled celebration, festivalgoers come to indulge in nature’s delectable treat and be immersed in the magic of the morel season.
Recognized for their nutty, earthy flavor and honeycomb-like appearance, morel mushrooms are rare and highly sought-after. The
mushroom’s fl eeting season usually lasts from mid-April to mid-May. Michigan’s climate, with its mix of hardwood forests and rich soil, provides the ideal conditions for morels to thrive.
The morel’s mystique makes it a prized fi nd among foragers, and competitive mushroom hunts are a popular annual tradition of the National Morel Mushroom Festival. Participants venture into nearby forests, armed with baskets and a little luck, in search of these elusive fungi. Given an allotted amount of time to hunt morels, the person who fi nds the most is awarded a prize.
Savor the Flavor:
stuffed ravioli to creamy morel soups and savory morel stroganoff, food is at the heart of the festival.
A Culinary Celebration of Morels
During the festival’s premiere event, Taste of Morels, local chefs not only showcase their creativity but also compete for the top-three winning morel-infused dishes. Boyne City restaurants and food vendors rise to the occasion, crafting this rare and flavorful mushroom in a variety of intriguing ways.
The largest concentration of morel mushroom cooking in the world takes place at the National Morel Mushroom Festival. From morel-
Another signature sellout festival event is Morel Wine & Dine, held at the Beach House Restaurant on Deer Lake. This is a must-visit experience to savor scenic lake views alongside morel-inspired hors d’oeuvres plates, each paired with fi ne wines.
Art, Music, and Morel Magic: A Festival of Creativity & Entertainment
Beyond its culinary delights, the festival comes alive with nightly entertainment and vibrant daytime activities. As the sun sets, live music takes center stage, with local bands and regional talent bringing high-energy performances to the Motherload Bash—perfect for dancing the night away.
By day, visitors can stroll through rows of canopy tents filled with handcrafted goods, morel-themed art, and unique souvenirs at the arts & crafts show. Artisans and vendors showcase their work, while live demonstrations, fresh mushrooms, and morel-infused teas tempt curious taste-testers.
Festivalgoers can snack their way through an array of delicious options, from crowd-pleasing burgers and food truck favorites to international flavors and indulgent desserts.
For those looking to get creative, Duncan Studios hosts Painting in the Park, offering guided painting sessions where participants can craft and take home their own morelinspired masterpiece. Adults can also join a Paint & Sip event, enjoying a complimentary glass of wine or beer while following step-by-step instructions to create Michiganthemed morel art.
Aspiring foragers can attend a free morel hunting seminar, where experts share tips on identifying, harvesting, and preparing these prized mushrooms while teaching the difference between true morels and potentially poisonous look-alikes for safe foraging.
Families will love the festival’s classic carnival experience, featuring thrilling rides, competitive midway games, and all the nostalgic fair food favorites. Whether you’re looking for adventure, creativity, or a chance to indulge, there’s something for everyone to enjoy!
The National Morel Mushroom Festival in Boyne City is more than just a celebration of a seasonal delicacy—it’s a testament to smalltown hospitality and a community’s love for nature, food, and togetherness. Whether you come for the gourmet dishes, exploring the woods in search of morels, or simply soaking in the festive atmosphere, you embark on an unforgettable adventure.
Boyne City’s 65th Annual National Morel Mushroom Festival is Thursday, May 15, through Sunday, May 18, 2025. More information and a full schedule of events can be found at bcmorelfestival.com or on their Facebook page.
Scan the QR code to watch a video of our visit to the National Morel Mushroom Festival
Cassondra Scott is a content creator, writer, and social media influencer at Cassondra Wanders— sharing small businesses and sights to see all over the state of Michigan.
Spring Into Summer by Swapping Your Lawn Equipment
Enjoy a more convenient and healthier spring and summer when you upgrade your lawn and landscaping equipment to electric versions! In addition to the many benefits of making the switch, PIE&G residential members can take advantage of rebates for qualifying efficient products.
Convenient Charging
With electric lawn equipment, you can avoid fuel spills and enjoy the convenience of simply plugging in at home to recharge. Spend more time relaxing in your landscaped backyard and less time lugging gas canisters back and forth.
Quieter Operation
No combustion motor means electric lawn equipment creates less noise pollution, something both you and your neighbors can appreciate.
Reduced Maintenance
You don’t have to worry about regularly changing the oil or air filters in electric lawn equipment, nor the messy job of draining fuel for the winter.
Easier Maneuvering
The lack of a motor makes electric lawn equipment lighter than gas-powered versions, and therefore easier to maneuver.
Zero Emissions
According to the Environmental Protection Agency
the nation’s air pollution.1 Since electric landscaping equipment does not utilize a combustion engine, there are zero emissions released. PIE&G Energy Optimization Rebates up to $300
Cash rebates for electric lawn mowers, string trimmers, leaf blowers, and chainsaws (and snow blowers!) are available from the PIE&G Energy Optimization program. For full details and information on how to apply, visit pieg.com/eo or call (877) 296-4319
1 https://www.des.nh.gov/sites/g/files/ehbemt341/files/documents/2020-01/ard-22.pdf
MICHIGAN’S FARMLANDS
1. MOST VOTES Lovely lavender fields! Kathryn Scoon
2. Boss dog hard at work during harvest. Stacie Avent
3. The golden hour—before the harvest. Jenny Badgero
4. Northern lights over NV acres. Laura Wolgast
5. August in Hillman. Paul Hinman
6. Historic farm by Lewiston. Gloria Zalewski
7. Before the storm—evening tide. Matt Badgero
8. Sunset walk in Wellington. Taylor Madse
9. The good ol’ days—square baling. Sharon Wyman
10. Harvesting food for the farm animals in winter. Carol May
Enter to win a $50 energy bill credit!
Submit your Michigan’s Waterfalls photos by May 25 for the July/Aug. issue! Submit your best photo and encourage others to vote! The photo receiving the most votes in our photo contest will be printed in an issue of Country Lines, along with some of our other favorites.
To enter the contest, visit pieg.com/photocontest. Enter your picture, cast your vote, and encourage others to vote for you as well. If your photo is printed in Country Lines during 2025, you will be entered into a drawing for a chance to win one of four $50 credits on your January 2026 bill.
MUSHROOM MASTERPIECES
Explore creative and flavorful ways to cook with mushrooms.
RECIPE CONTEST Win a $100 energy bill credit!
WINNING RECIPE!
CRAB STUFFED MUSHROOMS
Amanda Herbert, Midwest Energy & Communications
2 (8-ounce packs) fresh mushrooms
³⁄4 cup melted butter
1 cup fi nely chopped fresh spinach
1 cup crab meat
12 ounces cream cheese
¹⁄2 teaspoon garlic salt
¹⁄2 teaspoon lemon pepper
3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
¹⁄2 cup fresh grated Parmesan cheese
2 dashes of Tabasco sauce
³⁄4 teaspoon white wine
Preheat oven to 350 F. Take stems out of mushrooms, rinse, then place in 13x9-inch baking dish. Mix all ingredients together. Top mushrooms with mix. Bake immediately for 15 minutes, then broil till golden brown. Serve and enjoy.
Best Potato Dishes, due July 1. Submit your favorite recipe for a chance to win a $100 bill credit and have your recipe featured in Country Lines with a photo and a video. Submit your recipe at micoopkitchen.com, or send it via email (include your full name and co-op) to recipes@countrylines.com
MOREL MUSHROOM MOUSSE
Tamara Elhart, Great Lakes Energy
8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
¹⁄4 cup (4 tablespoons) butter, room temperature
³⁄4 teaspoon ground white pepper
1 tablespoon butter
¹⁄4 cup fi nely chopped onion
¹⁄2 cup chopped fresh morel mushrooms
2 tablespoons Marsala wine
Using an electric mixer, combine cream cheese, butter, and white pepper. Mix until cream cheese and butter are fluffy. Melt another tablespoon of butter in small skillet over medium heat. Add onions and sauté until onions are tender. Add mushrooms and sauté for 1 minute. Add Marsala wine to the skillet and allow juices to reduce to about 2 tablespoons of liquid. Remove from stove and allow mushroom mixture to cool completely. Add mushroom mixture into cream cheese mixture and blend using electric mixture until fluffy and combined. Store in the refrigerator until ready to serve. Remove and allow mousse to come to room temperature—serve with crackers.
STUFFED MUSHROOMS
Debra Buback, Presque Isle Electric & Gas Co-op
1 pound large whole white mushrooms
1 tablespoon butter
¹⁄2 cup fi nely chopped onion
¹⁄2 cup fi nely chopped green pepper
1 (5-ounce jar) Kraft Old English cheese spread
1 tablespoon Frank’s hot sauce, optional or to taste.
Preheat oven to 350 F. Wipe mushrooms clean, do not wash. Remove stems and fi nely chop (I use a mini food processor to fi nely chop stems and veggies). In medium sauté pan, melt butter on medium heat, and add stems, onions, and green pepper. Sauté until soft and most of the liquid is cooked off. Add cheese spread. Stir and mix well until cheese is melted. Add Frank’s hot sauce, if using. Turn heat to low, and stuff mushrooms. Fill each as much as possible. Place on a sheet pan and bake about 25 minutes. Serve immediately.
SULPHUR SHELF SNACK (AKA – CHICKEN OF THE WOODS)
Kim Ison, Midwest Energy & Communications
1 tablespoon chopped onion
2 tablespoons of butter
2 cups cleaned sulphur shelf mushrooms, cut into bite-size pieces
³⁄4 cup chicken broth
1 clove of fi nely chopped garlic
¹⁄4 cup sour cream
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons chopped parsley
Sauté the onion in butter for 1 minute, add mushrooms, and stir until the butter is absorbed. Add the broth and cook for 15 minutes or until mushrooms are tender.
Add the garlic, sour cream, and salt. Stir over low until well blended. Sprinkle with parsley, and serve with crackers or toast rounds. Serve immediately.
Move Over to Protect Roadside Crews
When lineworkers are perched in a bucket truck, repairing power lines along a busy road, they have good reason to be concerned about their safety. However, most are less apprehensive about problems like working with high voltages or falling. Their biggest worry is also the most unpredictable: a distracted driver slamming into their vehicle or a nearby power pole.
The National Safety Council reported that 891 people were killed and 37,701 people were injured in work zone crashes during 2022 (the most recent statistics). Most of those crashes occur in construction sites, which are usually wellmarked. Electric co-op crews are likely to face even greater danger, as they are often working alone along remote stretches of roads, frequently in heavy rain or other adverse weather conditions that can reduce their visibility.
The danger of work zone crashes led every state to adopt “move over” laws that require drivers to lower their speed and switch lanes when possible to protect emergency vehicles. The goal is to provide an added safety buffer and minimize the potential for accidents. Drivers caught violating the laws can face penalties such as significant fines.
Unfortunately, the Journal of Road Safety reports that just 14 states’ “move over” laws protect other types of service vehicles, such as construction trucks and utility vehicles. That means drivers in those states are under no legal obligation to give lineworkers that added margin of safety. Michigan’s “Move Over Law” requires drivers to slow down at least 10 mph below the posted speed limit and move into an open lane if possible when approaching and passing stationary emergency vehicles with flashing lights or other authorized vehicles with flashing lights.
Compounding this issue is the dramatic increase in distracted driving. The National Transportation Highway Safety Administration has reported that as many as 1,000 Americans are injured each day because of activities that take drivers’ attention away from the road. The most common is reading and responding to text messages. If a driver traveling at 55 miles per hour glances at their phone for just five seconds, they’ll have traveled the length of a football field before returning their gaze to the road.
The design of today’s vehicles contributes to distraction. Many vehicles have complex controls for entertainment and climate that demand the driver take their eyes off the road to make even simple adjustments.
Geography can also be a factor. Co-ops serving rural and remote areas often have power lines along twisty and hilly roads. Locals accustomed to driving those roads at fairly high
speeds may be startled and have little time to react when they encounter a work crew past a hill or around a curve.
Besides the potential for lineworker injuries, accidents can also damage or destroy expensive service vehicles, reducing a co-op’s ability to respond to outages and other problems. Power poles and other infrastructure may also suffer severe damage.
Additionally, many of the tasks performed by lineworkers, such as reconnecting high-voltage power lines, are inherently dangerous and require their complete focus. When their attention is distracted by speeding or noisy vehicles, they’re more likely to make mistakes that can complicate the repair or cause injury.
Nor are co-op employees at risk only when their vehicles are parked and repairs are underway. Lineworkers frequently have to drive slowly along the shoulder of roads to pinpoint broken power lines or failed transformers, especially in darkness or conditions that interfere with visibility.
Many state transportation agencies have work zone awareness programs. Amplifying those efforts by devoting part of a co-op’s advertising, publicity, and social media to safety measures reminds co-op members and other drivers of the importance of giving lineworkers a wide berth.
Co-ops are considering ways they can modify bucket trucks and other service vehicles to make them more visible. Bright colors and additional lighting such as flashing strobe lights and lighted detour arrows can attract attention from a distance. Reflective “work zone ahead” signs can also alert drivers to be ready for an unusual situation. Sometimes, a little bit of extra attention is all that’s needed to prevent a serious incident.
Participate in Your Co-op’s Governance
It’s time to nominate potential directors.
Co-ops are self-governing entities led by members who actively engage in policy-making decision processes. Members serve as elected representatives on the cooperative board and are accountable to all members. Participation is crucial for the effectiveness of the Presque Isle Electric & Gas Co-op (PIE&G), as it operates on democratic principles.
Any qualified PIE&G member-owner is eligible to serve on the cooperative’s board of directors, with each term lasting three years. In 2025, three positions will be open: two for Alpena County and one for Presque Isle County.
Candidates must meet the eligibility requirements outlined in Article III,
Your Board
In Action
At its most recent meeting, the PIE&G Board of Directors…
• Approved an increase in the Estate Retirement Discount Factor from 5.87% to 6.15%
• Approved three organizations for participation in the CoBank Sharing Success program
• Approved January New Memberships
section 2 of the PIE&G bylaws (details available on our website at pieg.com). Members interested in running for a director position should contact the cooperative office to understand the responsibilities involved. Board meetings typically occur on the fourth Tuesday of each month at 9:30 a.m.
To be considered for nominations, please submit a letter of interest by May 27, 2025, to the Nominating Committee, PIE&G, PO Box 308, Onaway, MI 49765. The committee will review all submissions in May. All petitions are due by July 15, 2025. Further details about the Annual Meeting scheduled for Oct. 24, 2025, in Hillman will be shared soon.
Any qualified member can be elected to serve. The term of office is three years.
Office Closed for Memorial Day May 26, 2025
Please note that our office will be closed on Monday, May 26, 2025, in observance of Memorial Day. We will resume normal business hours on Tuesday, May 27.
Need to make a payment? You can still pay using these methods:
• Our secure dropbox
• By phone at 866-999-4571
• Online at pieg.com
• Through the MYPIE&G app
• Approved Team Reports In case of an emergency, please call 800-423-6634. Thank you, and have a safe holiday!
CHEBOYGAN PRESQUE ISLE
OTSEGO MONTMORENCY
OSCODA ALPENA ALCONA
RESTORING POWER, REBUILDING TOGETHER
By Emily Haines Lloyd
Ice can be beautiful— but not when it brings disaster to a region.
In Northern Michigan, beauty turned brutal in hours. What began as a quiet snowfall late on March 28 quickly escalated into a catastrophic ice storm, coating counties at the tip of the mitten in a thick, glassy shell. Trees snapped under the weight of more than an inch of ice, power lines were pulled down like string, and thousands of electric poles splintered or collapsed under the strain. Nearly 100,000 cooperative member homes and businesses lost power—many for far longer than expected.
This storm was one of the most challenging Michigan co-ops had ever faced. The damage wasn’t just widespread—it was layered and diffi cult to access. Heavy ice brought down trees and power lines, while relentless waves of snow, wind, and freezing rain made conditions too diffi cult and dangerous for crews to begin restoration work until day three. Downed lines were buried beneath tangled debris, and poles had snapped in remote, hard-to-reach areas. Great Lakes Energy (GLE), which typically replaces around 800 poles per year, replaced that many within the fi rst three days once restoration could begin. Crews worked around the clock in brutal conditions, pushing through exhaustion and emotional strain, knowing thousands were still without power, heat, internet, and water.
Meteorologists called it a “generational” storm—comparable to a multi-day Category 5 hurricane. After the fi rst wave, 99% of Presque Isle Electric & Gas (PIE&G) members had lost power— something that had never happened in the co-op’s 88-year history.
“We call this storm ‘unprecedented,’ because it is,” said Allan Berg, PIE&G CEO. “No other network in our state has been completely taken down like this. But our restoration work is also setting records.”
In a unique show of cross-functional mutual aid, not just lineworkers—but engineers, IT and administrative staff, vegetation management teams, logistics coordinators, and communicators— joined the effort. The situation called for everyone.
Despite the scope of damage, progress was steady. By April 14, most electric outages had been restored, with remaining pockets on track for rebuild and restoration in the days ahead. The work now shifts to fi ber network restoration alongside continued recovery of the electric system, including debris removal over thousands of miles of infrastructure.
But even amid crisis, the storm revealed something extraordinary: the strength and heart of the community.
Every Michigan co-op sent support, and others came from across the
country. Mutual aid crews worked side by side with local teams, sharing tools, resources, and long days. Their dedication was nothing short of heroic.
Community members stepped up, too. Great Lakes Energy and Presque Isle Electric & Gas set up “Storm Camp” at the Otsego County Fairgrounds outside Gaylord. Staffed by volunteers, the site provided bunkhouses, meals, and laundry for a capacity of 1,200 fi eld crews. Neighbors opened their homes. Businesses donated supplies. Across Northern Michigan, people came together—not because they had to, but because that’s who we are.
"It's been amazing to see our team, but also contractors, families, mutual aid workers from across the country, volunteers from other co-ops, and our community—all show up to get power restored,” said Shaun Lamp, GLE CEO. “When you see people show up for one another, it’s humbling.”
Yes, ice can be beautiful—but its beauty fades when it freezes life in place. What lasts longer is the spirit of the people who faced it together: neighbors helping neighbors, strangers becoming friends, and a region proving that even in the harshest conditions, we endure—and we power on.
Follow the day-by-day restoration story at meca.coop/outage-center.
The Cooperative Difference
While Northern Michigan battled ice, Southern Michigan was also hit hard. On March 30, 2025, severe thunderstorms tore through Midwest Energy & Communications (MEC)’s service area, bringing 80 mph winds and two tornadoes. The storm snapped 140 poles and knocked out power to over 10,000 members at the peak—the largest storm the co-op had faced in at least 30 years.
MEC crews worked tirelessly through ongoing storms to restore service. Everyone—from lineworkers to dispatchers to warehouse teams—came together to get the lights back on.
Then, they packed up and headed north.
Once their own system was restored, MEC crews joined mutual aid efforts to help storm-ravaged communities in Northern Michigan.
That’s the cooperative difference. We don’t just serve—we show up. Local teams. National reach. A shared commitment to keeping the lights on—together.
Photo by Jeremy Bassett
FUEL MIX REPORT
fuel mix characteristics of Presque Isle Electric & Gas Co-op as required by Public Act 141 of 2000 for the 12-month period ended 12/31/24.
Michigan’s free & easy utility notification system.
COMMUNITIES FIRST FUND
At a recent meeting, the PIE&G Communities First Fund Board of Directors finalized awards of $15,907.11 in grants to the recipients listed below.
ALPENA
Alpena Youth Center ($1,200) for the purchase of one oven for their kitchen to help them prepare nutritious and homemade meals that follow USDA food guidelines. They are a childcare center that feeds 75–100 children each day (breakfast, lunch, and snack).
Foster Closet of Northern MI ($2,500) for the purchase of supplies that are required for the foster children’s basic needs, such as: underwear, socks, diapers, baby wipes, beds, and so much more. They also hold special events for foster families such as an upcoming Easter egg hunt.
CHEBOYGAN
Alverno Fire B’s Association ($499) for the purchase of smoke detectors to give out during their Community Open House event. They are holding the open house so that youth and families can explore and learn about fire safety in a safe and interactive environment.
Forest Waverly Township Fire Department ($5,000) for the purchase of 13 self-contained breathing apparatus packs. Self-contained breathing apparatus packs are a personal protective equipment that supplies breathable air to the firefighters in dangerous environments with oxygen deficiency, smoke, and dangerous gases. The equipment allows them to enter areas that pose an immediate danger to life and health.
Rivertown Follies, Inc ($508.11) for the purchase of supplies for the set of their 2025 show. Proceeds of the Rivertown Follies 2025 show benefit local charities.
MONTMORENCY
Hillman Community Schools ($2,000) for the purchase of new band chairs. The chairs and stands they currently use are well-worn and past their acceptable and reasonable period of use. The band is growing, and they also do not have enough chairs and stands for the next year.
Tri Township Ambulance Service ($2,200) for the purchase of 10 rescue jackets to help them provide services in the cold weather. Crews are subjected to lengthy periods outside in the elements for auto rescues, ice rescues, lost individuals, and other circumstances.
PRESQUE ISLE
Presque Isle Conservation District ($2,000) towards the cost of materials to improve the trails at Herman Vogler Conservation Area. Trails are being made wider with more even surfaces to improve access to people with differing levels of mobility.
2025 Communities First Fund Scholarships Awarded
The PIE&G Communities First Fund Board of Directors is pleased to announce that fifteen (15) $1,000 scholarships were awarded to the following high school seniors:
CHEBOYGAN
Nola Ecker
Lily Wright
GAYLORD
Kylee Hopp
HILLMAN
Autumn Lis
INLAND LAKES
Brooklyn LaBrecque
ONAWAY
Sadie Decker
Ema DeMaestri
Kailyn George
Grace Watson
PETOSKEY
Ainslee Glass
POSEN
Alexis Bedard
John Ennest
Aubrey Kowalski
Maddison Styma
ROGERS CITY
Brianne Hickel
The A. Barkley Travis Memorial Scholarship, valued at $500, was awarded to Lena Bisson from Rogers City High School.
The Peterson Vocation School Scholarship, valued at $750, was awarded to Kason Hart from Cheboygan High School.
The Murville & Caroline Douglas Scholarship, valued at $1,000, was awarded to Amelie Hanson from Petoskey High School.
The Nathan W. Douglas Scholarship, valued at $1,000, was awarded to Andrew Budnick from Posen High School.
NO BARRIERS 2025
No Barriers Programs Serve:
• People with disabilities
• Veterans with disabilities
• Youth with disabilities & their families
• Family caregivers
Michigan electric cooperatives believe there should be “No Barriers” for people affected by disabilities. That’s the name and idea behind CoBank’s No Barriers initiative. Michigan cooperatives are seeking affected adults, veterans*, youth, and caregivers from our local community to participate in No Barriers’ multi-day basecamp experiences and backcountry experiences, where participants will learn to overcome challenges and leave ready to elevate their lives and communities.
Full and partial scholarship opportunities for qualifi ed applicants**
*Must have VA disability rating to be eligible.
**Fundraising required for those who do not qualify for a scholarship.
Apply by May 15 to be considered!
In-person programs run from June to September
Learn more & apply: nobarriersusa.org Contact us: info@nobarriersusa.org 970-484-3633, ext. 201
Don’t miss this chance to embark on an unforgettable journey. Apply today!
Where In Michigan Is This?
March 2025 WINNER!
Winners are announced in the following issues of Country Lines: January, March, May, July/August, September, and November/December.
To the lineworkers, employees, mutual aid crews, emergency responders, volunteers, and supportive community members—thank you.
In the aftermath of one of the most severe ice storms our region has ever faced, the strength, skill, and unwavering dedication of our teams lit the way forward. Line by line, pole by pole, they worked around the clock in the harshest conditions to restore power, hope, and connection.
To the communities and volunteers who opened their doors, offered meals, provided shelter, and cheered our crews on—your kindness and generosity reminded us that even in the coldest storms, we are never alone.
This storm tested us all, but it also revealed something powerful: the heart of a community that comes together, shows up, and stands strong in the face of adversity.
From all of us—thank you for your resilience, your support, and for reminding us what it truly means to be a community.