Ameren Illinois Utilities are Prepared for Severe Winter Weather, Offer Tips to Help Customers when Storms Occur
December 13 2008 - 11:51AM
PR Newswire (US)
PEORIA, Ill., Dec. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- A weather forecast that
includes the possibility of freezing rain, snow and sleet Sunday
night and early next week finds the Ameren Illinois Utilities
prepared for severe winter conditions while advising customers to
ready themselves for the possibility of storm- related power
outages throughout the winter. "Safety is our priority every day of
the year, but it takes on added significance when severe weather
strikes," said Bill Prebil, Ameren Illinois Utilities vice
president for Regional Operations. "The first safety rule is to
stay away from downed power lines and always call us or '911' if
you see downed lines," Prebil said. "Never go outside in the dark
because you won't be able to see a downed power line that could
still be energized and dangerous. Stay away from brush, shrubs and
downed trees that may hide downed lines." Ron Pate, Ameren Illinois
Utilities vice president of Regional Operations, explained: "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." When there is a threat
of severe weather, Pate said 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 Utilities personnel on alert. -- Consider
staging field personnel in preparation for storm restoration work.
Decisions on staging are based on evolving weather conditions. --
In anticipation of severe winter weather, the Ameren Illinois
Utilities may dispatch special Ameren Illinois Storm Trailers.
These trailers are filled with materials field crews need to
perform their service restoration work. The trailers can be moved
to various staging sites to provide materials when outside crews
come in to help with the restoration efforts and to provide a store
of materials close to the area with the most damage. -- In severe
weather situations, the Ameren Illinois Utilities Emergency
Operations Center will be activated. The center is strategically
located in Decatur. Customer Safety Tips 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. -- Because most major outages are caused by severe
weather, begin 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 land
line telephones will not function in the event of a power outage.
-- If your power goes out, contact 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 "County Outages" to view
the number of outages in each county. -- 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: Leigh Morris, +1-217-535-5228, or Neal
Johnson, +1-309-677-5284, or Victoria Busch, +1-618-346-1286, for
Ameren Illinois Utilities Web site: http://www.ameren.com/
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