Mobile units will be important single point of contact for crews
ST. LOUIS (February 2024) – Ameren has added two specially designed Mobile Command Center trailers to its fleet to coordinate crews and materials in the aftermath of a storm. The command centers may be moved to an area with major damage.
The 24-foot-by-8-foot trailers can be pulled behind an Ameren utility truck and are climate controlled and equipped with high-speed internet access, computer workstations, a generator, technology for viewing real-time drone footage of storm damage and an awning to provide outside cover.
"Ameren continually looks at technology and equipment to enhance the resiliency of our energy grid, improve customer reliability and reduce power outages in the aftermath of severe weather," said Luke Wollin, vice president, Electric Operations, Ameren Illinois. "We feel our Mobile Command Center trailers will have an immediate impact in our restoration efforts moving forward."
The Mobile Command Center trailers will complement the company's emergency preparedness fleet of equipment, which includes storm material trailers and mobile substations. Storm material trailers are stocked with supplies that enable crews to restore power safely after a storm, while a mobile substation can take over operations of a neighborhood substation damaged by a storm.
"The Mobile Command Center trailers will give the company a single point of contact for crews, while also being available for use during mutual assistance response efforts outside Ameren's service areas," said Ryan Arnold, vice president of energy delivery, Ameren Missouri. "We will be able to deploy the command centers quickly and can have them set up and fully operational in minutes. It's going to make communications and coordination much more efficient. Most importantly, it will help us improve restoration times for our customers after a storm."
Ameren plans to take its Mobile Command Center trailers on the road should the company be called upon by the Midwest Mutual Assistance Group to assist a power company from another state.
About Ameren Corporation
St. Louis-based Ameren Corporation powers the quality of life for 2.4 million electric customers and more than 900,000 natural gas customers in a 64,000-square-mile area through its Ameren Missouri and Ameren Illinois rate-regulated utility subsidiaries. Ameren Illinois provides electric transmission and distribution service and natural gas distribution service. Ameren Missouri provides electric generation, transmission and distribution service, as well as natural gas distribution service. Ameren Transmission Company of Illinois develops, owns and operates rate-regulated regional electric transmission projects in the Midcontinent Independent System Operator, Inc. For more information, visit Ameren.com, or follow us on Twitter at @AmerenCorp, Facebook.com/AmerenCorp, or LinkedIn.com/company/Ameren.