Cabarrus Today

Concord Electric Systems has been honored with a National Commendation from the American Public Power Association (APPA) for their efforts in restoring power in Forest City, North Carolina, following Hurricane Helene. The commendation was presented by Mayor Bill Dusch during February's City Council Work Session, where he acknowledged the dedication of Concord's lineworkers.

Mayor Dusch remarked, "When our neighbors needed help, they did not hesitate to volunteer. They worked long days in tough conditions, and they did not quit until the lights were back on."

Jackie Rushing, a long-time lineworker and Overhead Coordinator at Concord Electric Systems, noted that 95% of Forest City's system was down upon their arrival. A team of nine lineworkers from Concord spent seven days working on tasks such as cutting trees, replacing broken power poles and damaged transformers, repairing power lines, and assisting with cleanup.

The team included Jackie Rushing along with Larry Barbee, Chris Aldridge, Syrus Dellinger, Tim Furr, Triston Langston, Clint Meece, Chandler Rice, and Jason Sartain. Rushing expressed pride in his colleagues' work: "I can’t say enough about these guys right here... These guys did a heck of a job."

Concord Electric Systems is part of the APPA’s Mutual Aid Network which coordinates utility assistance during widespread outages. Through this network's mutual aid agreement, Concord's team traveled to Forest City on September 29, 2024.

Officials from Forest City praised the team's efforts as a "godsend" and invited crew leader Jackie Rushing to be a special guest at the town’s annual tree lighting ceremony. His participation symbolized both the town’s resilience and the strength found in community support through mutual aid.