Pike Electric Corporation announced that approximately 1400 Pike Electric personnel are involved in Hurricane Wilma restoration efforts as well as the first snow storm of the season.

"It is the first time in Pike Electric's history that the company is responding to both a snow storm and a hurricane restoration at the same time," said J. Eric Pike, chairman and chief executive officer. "This season's four major hurricanes have kept Pike Electric's storm center open around the clock since July and it will remain open until our crews return from Hurricane Wilma.

Earlier this week, Florida residents were bracing for Hurricane Wilma to impact the southern portion of the state. At the same time, many northern states were preparing for the first snowfall of 2005. Hurricane Wilma, a category three hurricane packing 125 mph winds, left nearly one-third of Florida's residents without power. Approximately 1260 Pike Electric personnel from 14 states have responded to help restore power in southern Florida. Many of these crew members from Oklahoma, Missouri, Texas, Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Indiana, and Maryland have already been involved in the long storm season. Wilma restoration efforts are expected to extend well into November. This has been one of the toughest storm seasons Pike Electric has experienced due to the working conditions in the impacted areas.

Additionally, residents in West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Maryland lost power this week due to an early winter storm that dumped seven inches of snow and impacted several power systems. Pike Electric has approximately 150 personnel from seven states restoring power to the impacted areas and expects the work to be completed by this Sunday. Once finished, many of these crew members will travel to Florida to join the Hurricane Wilma restoration efforts.

Pike Electric Corporation is one of the largest providers of outsourced electric distribution and transmission services in the United States.