FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, May 21, 2025
CONTACT: Amy Bailey, Byrum & Fisk Advocacy Communications, [email protected]
Presque Isle Electric & Gas creates fund to support community groups, organizations following catastrophic ice storm
Financial assistance to provide needed funding to help food banks, support warming shelters in region
ONAWAY, Mich. – Presque Isle Electric & Gas Co-Op (PIE&G) is proud to announce it has established a program to provide some financial relief to community organizations and groups that provided support during the catastrophic ice storm in March.
“At PIE&G, we are dedicated to investing in our communities across northern Michigan,” said Allan Berg, PIE&G CEO. “We partner with local groups doing important community work and so many of these groups rallied together during the recent catastrophic ice storm. Part of our values is being a trusted energy and community partner, supporting those groups and individuals to support the communities we proudly serve.”
PIE&G is working with local shelters as well as emergency medical services, fire departments, food pantries and other community organizations to determine how best to support them with additional funding for support they provided co-op members during the devastating ice storm.
The catastrophic ice storm that started in late March completely knocked out power to PIE&G’s entire system. All members impacted by the storm have had their power restored, and internet service has been restored to more than 90% of subscribers who lost service due to the ice storm.
The unprecedented ice storm in March caused catastrophic damage to northern Michigan’s energy-providing grid, causing more than $175 million in damage, according to estimates.
PIE&G is a not-for-profit electric cooperative and broadband utility serving more than 35,000 rural homes and businesses spanning nine counties in northeast lower Michigan. Learn more by visiting the co-op’s website.
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