(ST. LOUIS) – With an early start to the St. Louis summer heat, the IBEW/NECA Electrical Connection and its contractors are donating services and materials to restore power to St. Louis homes damaged by the May 16, 2025 tornado.  At a July 1, 2025 press conference at the IBEW Local 1 Union Hall, St. Louis Mayor Cara Spencer announced new tornado recovery programs, including one that reconnects homes to electrical grid.  The Electrical Connection is donating $20,000 while NECA contractors Guarantee Electrical and ArchKey Solutions are donating $100,000 a piece to the power restoration initiative. Another Electrical Connection contractor, RJP Electric, and the St. Louis Home Repair Network are engaged in the initiative.

Teams from IBEW and NECA have already begun site assessments to restore power safely to more than 200 homes, including damaged mastheads, meters and service entrances. They will then tap their reliable suppliers and begin connecting homes back into the electrical grid.  The city of St. Louis has set up a web site for restoration needs at its STL Recovers web site.

“While the city will administrate the recovery program, we are grateful that the IBEW/NECA Electrical Connection, Guarantee and ArchKey have agreed to do all the heavy lifting with their generous donation of service and materials,” noted St. Louis Mayor Cara Spencer. The program provides free electrical assessments and repairs to those in need.

Rich Ledbetter CEO of Guarantee Electrical

“Our neighbors are in jeopardy,” said Rich Ledbetter, CEO of Guarantee Electrical. “Their power grid has returned, but connecting to their houses requires safe installations.  We have the resources and expertise through our partnership with IBEW Local 1 and fellow contractors like ArchKey to expedite the restoration of electrical services.”  St. Louis media attended the press conference, including KMOV-TV which posted this story.

Earlier this year, the IBEW Electrical Workers Minority Caucus held a "Day of Service" to clear tornado debris.

In addition to the power restoration program, the city is also initiating three other recovery programs, including:

·         Partnering with the St. Louis chapter of the American Institute of Architects to provide free drop-in consultations at City Hall for residents concerned about the structural integrity of their homes.

·         A contractor registry to connect residents with contractors registered with the city and protect them from fraud by unqualified contractors.

·         An emergency stabilization program to provide free, urgent home repairs, with priority given to seniors and uninsured residents. It would include putting tarps over roofs, boarding windows and doors and removing debris.

More information can be found at the STL Recovers web site.

The Electrical Connection is a partnership of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local No. 1 and the St. Louis Chapter, National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA). Members provide safe and reliable electrical construction, maintenance, repair and replacement services across Missouri, the nation and the world.  Learn more at www.electricalconnection.org.