Ameren Illinois Utilities Expect to Complete Service Restoration for the Majority of Customers Today; Some Single Outages May Ex
February 14 2008 - 12:04PM
PR Newswire (US)
Customers Still Without Power Should Call Their Ameren Illinois
Utility CARBONDALE, Ill. and MARION, Ill., Feb. 14 /PRNewswire/ --
The Ameren Illinois Utilities today expect to wrap up storm
restoration efforts for the majority of customers still without
power due to Monday night's ice storm in Southern Illinois. More
than 800 workers remain dedicated to restoring service to
approximately 1,400 AmerenCIPS and AmerenIP customers still without
power this morning. Forecasts calling for strong winds and melting
ice falling on to power lines may be a factor in today's
restoration efforts, causing some outages to extend into Friday.
Customers who are still without electrical service are asked to
call their Ameren Illinois utility as soon as possible. AmerenCIPS
customers should call 1-888-789-2477; AmerenIP customers should
call 1-800-755-5000. In addition, some customers may need the
services of an electrical contractor to reattach or repair
customer-owned facilities, such as the meter base, weatherhead or
point of attachment. Click here:
http://www.ameren.com/Outage/ADC_au_ElectricalServiceComponents.asp
for a diagram showing this arrangement. The Ameren Illinois
Utilities also warn residents to stay away from downed power lines,
which may still be energized. Residents should stay away from brush
and fallen trees which may hide downed wires. Until the ice melts
off power lines and trees there will be a continued chance of
additional damage to power lines. Residents who see a downed power
line should call their Ameren Illinois Utility. AmerenCIPS' and
AmerenIP's territory in southern Illinois began experiencing
outages at approximately 8:30 p.m., Monday, Feb. 11, due to icing
conditions. Thick ice, falling tree limbs and windy conditions
caused outage numbers to fluctuate throughout the day, reaching a
peak of 18,400 customers without power late Tuesday afternoon.
However, this number was cut to about 7,900 by Wednesday morning.
Nearly 480 Ameren Illinois Utility workers and outside contractor
personnel from across the state, as well as more than 320 tree
trimmers, management and field checking workers, assigned to the
restoration effort. "We want to thank our customers for their
patience and understanding during this service restoration
process," said John Barud, manager of Ameren Illinois Division VI.
"I know our customers will be relieved to learn that we will
complete the majority of our restoration work today." "We also
appreciate all of the help we have received from state and local
emergency and government officials and their staffs, as well as the
long hours and hard work of our personnel and those of the private
electrical contractors." The Ameren Illinois Utilities serve 1.2
million electric and more than 840,000 natural gas customers in a
43,700-square-mile area of Illinois. DATASOURCE: Ameren Illinois
Utilities CONTACT: Erica Abbett of Ameren Illinois Utilities,
+1-618-236-4329 Web site: http://www.ameren.com/
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