Ameren Illinois Utilities are Prepared for Severe Winter Weather, Offers Tips to Help Customers When Storms Occur
November 20 2007 - 10:08AM
PR Newswire (US)
PEORIA, Ill., SPRINGFIELD, Ill., and DECATUR, Ill., Nov. 20
/PRNewswire/ -- With the onset of colder weather and the ever
present threat of winter storms, the Ameren Illinois utilities are
prepared for severe weather and are advising customers to ready
themselves for the possibility of power outages. "Safety is our
first and foremost concern throughout the year, but it takes on
added significance when severe storms strike," said Stan Ogden,
vice president of Customer service and Public Relations for the
Ameren Illinois utilities (AmerenCILCO, AmerenCIPS and AmerenIP).
"The most important safety rule is to stay clear of downed power
lines and always call your Ameren Illinois utility or '911' if you
see downed lines. Do not venture out in the dark because you won't
be able to see a power line that could still be energized and
dangerous. Stay clear of brush, shrubs and downed trees that may
hide downed lines," Ogden said. Ogden added, "When severe storms
cause power outages, our first priority is to correct potentially
life-threatening situations, such as downed power lines or
hospitals without power. We then implement power restoration plans
focused on restoring power for the greatest number of customers in
the shortest length of time." Ogden said that when there is the
threat of severe weather, the key steps take by the Ameren Illinois
utilities include: -- Constantly monitor weather conditions,
watching for any changes that may impact service. -- Place Ameren
Illinois utility employees on alert. -- Consider staging field
personnel in preparation for storm restoration work. Decisions on
staging are based on evolving weather conditions. "When there is a
major storm, we immediately assess damage and respond with the
appropriate personnel, equipment and other resources to restore
service as quickly and safely as possible," Ogden said. "Our
planning and response efforts are designed to minimize the length
of customer outages. Storm preparedness is critically important to
our ability to meet the challenges presented by a major storm. The
Ameren Illinois utilities are ready for severe weather." In
restoring service, crews begin with main lines -- those that serve
thousands of customers. Then they move to lines that can affect
hundreds; secondary lines that affect dozens; and finally to
service lines at individual homes and businesses. Throughout the
restoration process, the Ameren Illinois utilities maintain contact
with state and local emergency management agencies and designated
staff that provides ongoing service restoration updates to public
officials, the news media and customers. The Ameren Illinois
utilities also utilize a system to alert and mobilize additional
line and service crews from the three Ameren Illinois utilities and
from other utility companies in areas not affected by the storm,
calling on them for assistance. For a full description of the
Ameren Illinois utilities' restoration process and tips on how
customers can prepare for service disruptions, visit the Ameren Web
site at http://www.ameren.com/ (select "Outage Information" from
the left-hand menu, select Ameren Illinois Outage Information and
then select "Ameren's Storm Response" from the left-hand menu).
Customers can learn more about power outage situations by visiting
selecting "Outage Information" and then such menu options as the
"Outage Map" and "My Electric Outage." The measures customers
should take to prepare for a power outage or loss of natural gas
service are similar to those needed to prepare for any emergency
situation. Here are some tips on dealing with winter storms: --
Because most major outages are caused by bad weather, start by
developing shelter plans for severe storm conditions. -- If any
member of your family has a medical condition, plan and make
arrangements to have that person's special needs met in the event
electricity is not available for an extended period of time during
a storm. -- Assemble a "storm kit" and store it in a secure,
centrally located part of your house. Make sure all family members
know where to find that kit. It should contain: -- Emergency
telephone numbers; flashlights and fresh batteries (avoid using
candles, lanterns or oil lamps due to the fire risk); extra garage
and house keys; a battery-powered radio; a battery-powered or
wind-up alarm clock; a supply of bottled water (one gallon per
person per day); non-perishable foods that don't require heating;
blankets, bedding or sleeping bags; a first-aid kit and
medications; a hand-operated can opener; special items for infants
or family members with special needs; hand tools, such as a
screwdriver, scissors and duct tape; household items like plastic
utensils, paper plates, waterproof matches and household bleach;
identification and copies of important family documents. -- If your
electric service is interrupted, be sure to unplug or protect
sensitive computer and electronic equipment with a high-quality
surge protector. -- When severe weather is predicted, make certain
your cell phone is fully charged. Also, remember that cordless
landline telephones will not function in the event of a power
outage. -- If your power goes out, check first with a neighbor to
see if you are the only one without power. If you are the only one
without service, check your panel box for a tripped circuit breaker
or blown fuse. If any breakers are in the "off" position or if a
fuse is blown, you should investigate the problem. If you are still
without power, or if others in your neighborhood are experiencing a
power outage, call your Ameren Illinois utility at any time, 24
hours a day, seven days a week -- and always call as soon as
possible to report a downed line or natural gas odor! The Ameren
Illinois utility numbers are 888-672-5252 (AmerenCILCO),
888-789-2477 (AmerenCIPS) and 800-755-7000 (AmerenIP). The Ameren
Illinois utilities serve 1.2 million electric and more than 800,000
natural gas customers in a 43,700-square-mile area of Illinois.
Outage Information Resources Ameren Illinois utility customers can
access information about electricity service outages on the Ameren
Web site (http://www.ameren.com/) as follows: -- Go to the "Storm
Center" in the left-hand menu and select "Outage Information." --
Then select "Ameren Illinois Outage Information." -- By selecting
the "Outage Map," you can immediate see the areas that are affected
by outages and the number of customers without power in the
affected areas. Outages are listed by zip codes. -- Select "My
Electric Outage" to learn more about the outage affecting you. If
you have not already done so, you will need to take a few moments
to create a user ID and password. It is a good idea to do this
before a storm occurs. With this service, you often can determine
the outage cause and estimated restoration time. -- "Power Out?
Call Us" provides complete contact information in the event of an
outage. Review and print out this information before a storm
occurs. -- "Storms and Emergencies" provides valuable customer
information in dealing with severe storms. -- "Outage Restoration
Trend" shows a graph to help customers understand the progress
being made to restore power. -- "Emergency Preparedness" provides a
link to Ready America. Here customers will learn how to assemble a
storm emergency kit, how to make an emergency plan and how to stay
informed. DATASOURCE: Ameren Illinois utilities CONTACT: Erica
Abbett, +1-618-236-4329, or Natalie Hemmer, +1-217-424-7541, or
Neal Johnson, +1-309-677-5284, or Leigh Morris, +1-217-535-5228,
all for Ameren Illinois Utilities Web site: http://www.ameren.com/
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