Thunderstorms, Wind Challenge 1,000 Linemen Working to Turn Lights on for 13,700 Ameren Illinois Utilities Customers
May 13 2009 - 11:56AM
PR Newswire (US)
Those without Power Asked to Call Ameren Illinois Utilities MARION,
Ill., May 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Another round of
thunderstorms and high winds today is presenting a new challenge
for the 1,000 linemen at work to restore service to the 13,700
Ameren Illinois Utilities (AIU) customers in Jackson and Williamson
counties who are still without lights. A workforce of field and
support personnel that peaked at 2,200 have succeeded in getting
the power flowing to about 55,100 customers since the inland
hurricane ripped through Southern Illinois. Outages peaked at
68,800 immediately after the storm. The Ameren Illinois Utilities
estimate that most customers will have lights by late tonight,
though it is anticipated scattered outages will persist into
Thursday. Furthermore, a new round of severe weather could cause
new outages in Southern Illinois as well as in other parts of the
state. "We are devoting our resources to restoring electrical
service to our customers in a two county area served by more than
100 electric distribution circuits," said Ron Pate, AIU vice
president of Regional Operations. "These final outages often are
the most difficult to restore because of extensive damage and
remote locations. However, we want to assure everyone that we are
not resting until everyone has lights." Customers who are still
without electrical service are asked to call AIU: 1-888-789-2477
(AmerenCIPS), 1-800-755-7000 (AmerenIP) and 1-888-672-5252
(AmerenCILCO). In addition, Pate said as many as 1,000 AIU
customers may need to make repairs to the facilities they own, such
as the meter base, weatherhead or point of attachment. This work
should be performed by a professional electrical contractor. These
repairs must be completed before service can be safely restored. A
detailed explanation of this work is available at
IllinoisOutage.com. AIU is reminding customers that it may be
necessary to temporarily turn the power off to some customers
during the service restoration process. This is done so crews can
safely complete necessary repair work. Power will be restored as
soon as the work is safely completed. Pate also said the AIU
Emergency Operations Center is keeping a close watch on developing
weather conditions in Southern Illinois and around the state. AIU
is taking the necessary steps to quickly respond to any service
challenges additional severe weather may cause. The Ameren Illinois
Utilities also are working with mayors to determine how long the
temporary AIU Customer Outreach Service Centers should remain open.
The center located in the Herrin City Hall will close at 3:00 p.m.
today. The other centers will remain open until further notice.
Those centers are located at: Murphysboro Fire Station, 219 N. 10th
St., Southwest entrance Illinois Centre Mall, Marion; Carbondale
City Hall, 200 S. Illinois Ave., and Community Food Pantry, 121 W.
Illinois Ave., Carterville. Up-to-date information on the
electrical service restoration effort as well as safety advice and
weather reports is available at IllinoisOutage.com. Also, the Web
site features photos and videos of the storm damage and service
restoration effort. The Ameren Illinois Utilities (AmerenCIPS,
AmerenCILCO, AmerenIP) have been providing safe, reliable energy
delivery service for more than a century. The Ameren Illinois
Utilities deliver energy to 1.2 million electric and 840,000
natural gas customers in more than 1,200 communities within a
43,700-square-mile service territory. DATASOURCE: Ameren Illinois
Utilities CONTACT: Neal Johnson, +1-309-677-5284, or Victoria
Busch, +1-618-614-3032, or Leigh Morris, +1-217-535-5228, or After
5:00 p.m., +1-217-424-6400, all of Ameren Illinois Utilities Web
Site: http://www.ameren.com/ http://www.illinoisoutage.com/
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