Ameren Illinois Utilities Work to Restore Power for about 8,600 Southern Illinois Customers
January 28 2009 - 11:25AM
PR Newswire (US)
Hazardous Conditions Confront Utilities Crews MARION, Ill., Jan. 28
/PRNewswire/ -- 9:00 a.m. -- Up to two inches of ice have left
about 8,600 Ameren Illinois Utilities customers in Southern
Illinois without power, while creating extremely hazardous working
conditions that are slowing the service restoration work by Ameren
Illinois Utilities field personnel. Late Monday afternoon, the
Ameren Illinois Utilities activated the Emergency Operations Center
(EOC) to direct the service restoration effort. A total of 371
field personnel have been assigned to the effort and the Ameren
Illinois Utilities have placed a Storm Trailer in Anna. The Storm
Trailer serves as a portable utility storeroom, providing a
centralized source of materials for crews working to restore
service. Shortly after midnight today, the number of customers
without service started to grow significantly as ice-coated limbs
began to fall into power lines. The threat of additional outages
will continue because of the heavy ice accumulations on trees and
power lines coupled with the prospect of subfreezing temperatures
until at least Saturday. Utilities personnel are now assessing the
damage to both high voltage subtransmission lines and the
electrical distribution system that brings power to homes and
businesses. Not until this process is completed will the Ameren
Illinois Utilities be in a position to determine estimated
restoration times. "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," said Ron Pate, vice president of Regional Operations.
"Safety is our priority every day of the year, but it takes on
added significance when severe weather strikes," Pate said. "The
first safety rule is to stay away from downed power lines and
always call us or '911' if you see downed lines. 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." To report
downed power lines or other problems, customers should call the
Ameren Illinois Utilities: 1-888-672-5252 (AmerenCILCO),
1-888-789-2477 (AmerenCIPS) and 1-800-755-7000 (AmerenIP). Customer
Safety Advice In order to stay warm and prevent hypothermia,
residents are urged to follow these tips: -- Dress in warm, layered
clothing. -- Check on neighbors, especially the elderly and those
with medical conditions to make certain they are safe and warm. --
Remain indoors as much as possible. -- Place towels or rags along
the bottom of doors to keep the cold out. Do the same for drafty
windows. -- Keep drapes and shades closed at night. During a sunny
day, open shades and drapes on the sunny side of the home to take
advantage of solar heating. -- Eat to provide your body with the
energy needed help stay warm. Drink plenty of liquids to avoid
dehydration. -- Remain active, but avoid strenuous activities that
cause perspiration. -- Consider staying with friends or relatives
or going to a warming center if you cannot keep your home
reasonably warm. Remember, infants and the elderly are more
susceptible to the cold than the rest of us. -- Customers planning
to use a portable 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 because of the threat of deadly carbon monoxide
poisoning. 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: Leigh E. 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.illinoisoutage.com/
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