Ameren Illinois Utilities Push to Restore Lights in Central Illinois by Tonight; Strong Winds May Slow Restoration Effort, Cause
December 20 2008 - 11:21AM
PR Newswire (US)
PEORIA, Ill., Dec. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- More than 1,400 Ameren
Illinois Utilities field personnel are at work to restore
electrical service by late evening to about 15,000 customers
without lights in the wake of yesterday's ice storm, but high winds
forecasted for tonight and tomorrow threaten to slow the service
restoration effort and even cause new outages. "Our primary concern
is that power lines and trees still heavily coated with ice and
today's colder temperatures mean little if any of that ice will
melt. High winds blowing on ice-coated power lines and trees can
damage the power lines and cause tree limbs to break and fall into
power lines. Our customers need to be prepared for the possibility
of new outages," said Bill Prebil, Ameren Illinois vice president
of Regional Operations. According to the National Weather Service
(NWS): "A strong arctic cold front will pass through the region"
(Central Illinois) that will produce "winds of 20 to 30 mph with
higher gusts." The NWS added: "The combination of the strong winds
and lingering ice has the potential to produce additional tree
damage and power outages tonight and Sunday. Persons in the region
should make necessary preparations now to be ready for any power
outages." Under the direction of the Ameren Illinois Emergency
Operations Center in Decatur, Ameren Illinois Utilities field crews
and support staff are working 16-hour shifts to restore service.
Furthermore, crews will remain at the ready in the event of
additional outages. The Ameren Illinois Utilities also have sent
Storm Trailers to Peoria, East Peoria area and Chenoa. The Storm
Trailers are mobile storerooms, stocked with the material field
crews need to get the lights back on. The trailers can be moved to
central staging sites to provide essential materials areas with the
greatest damage. The storm began to cause significant outages
during yesterday's early morning hours. Service outages peaked at
about 45,000 before noon. Field personnel from throughout the
Ameren Illinois Utilities service territory and crews from
electrical contractors have been making rapid progress despite
adverse weather conditions. Customer Safety Advice "Safety is our
priority every day of the year, but it takes on added significance
when severe weather strikes," Prebil said. "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." 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). -- Anyone using a portable generator
should follow strict safety requirements to prevent injury or death
both to themselves and to the utility field crews attempting to
restore power. Customers planning to install a temporary generator
must first open the main breaker or remove the main fuses before
connecting the generator to the electrical systems. Failure to do
this could seriously injure utility crews working on outside power
lines, and/or it could cause damage to a neighbor's property or the
customer's own equipment. Customers should never use a portable
generator indoors, including in a home, garage, basement, shed or
partially-enclosed area -- even with ventilation. Opening doors and
windows or using fans will not prevent the carbon monoxide exhaust
from building up in the home. Only use a portable generator
outdoors in a dry area, away from doors, windows and vents.
Customers should also exercise extreme caution when handling fuel
for portable generators, especially when re-fueling hot generators.
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. Editor's Note: For current information on the restoration
effort, please visit http://www.illinoisoutage.com/ DATASOURCE:
Ameren Illinois Utilities CONTACT: Saturday and Sunday:
+1-217-424-6400; Leigh Morris, +1-217-416- 9609, or Victoria Busch,
+1-618-614-3032, or Neal Johnson, +1-309-677-5284, all of Ameren
Illinois Utilities Web site: http://www.ameren.com/
http://www.illinoisoutage.com/
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