Current situation and numbers to know
Ameren crews and contractors have worked diligently since a major storm system moved through the territory causing a peak of 61,000 outages Friday night and into Saturday morning. 70% of customer outages were restored within 15 hours and a total of 100,000 customers have been restored since winds first started picking up on Friday afternoon.
Winds have died down throughout the day, but there is still a chance for thunderstorms in the south this evening.
- Approximately, 16,000 customers are without power at the time of this report. The highest concentration of remaining outages is in our South Region. Customers served by our Belleville, East St. Louis, and Sparta operating centers experienced extensive damage.
- 270 sub transmission and distribution poles were damaged. A significant amount of wire down reports across the territory; some substation damage.
- See the Ameren outage map for the latest: www.ameren.com/outagemap
RESTORATION RESOURCES
- Crews worked overnight to restore outages and additional resources reported this morning and have worked throughout the day. Approximately 1,250 Ameren and contractor personnel (line workers, tree trimmers, logistics, etc.) are engaged.
Estimated Safe Restoration Times (ESRTs)
- Region Operations are entering individual and global ESRTS on outage orders as firm restoration times are determined. Here are the general ESRTs for the remaining outages:
- South
- Anna, Centralia, Harrisburg: 10:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 15
- Belleville, East St. Louis, Sparta: 11:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 16
- East
- Champaign, Danville: 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 15
- Mattoon/Paris and Tuscola: 11:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 16
- North
- Peoria/LaSalle: 10:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 15
- West
- Most remaining customers: 11:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 15
- Carthage area – 12 Noon on Sunday, March 16
COMMUNICATION
- We understand that there is never a good time to lose power, and it can be frustrating for our customers. We appreciate the patience and understanding of our customers as crews work hard to get the power restored.
- We understand that customers are looking for information about the status of their individual outages. Due to the hard work of crews in assessing damage and sourcing materials needed for repairs, we are providing estimated restoration times on customer orders.
- Real-time outage details and safety information are available at Ameren.com/outage. Customers and media can also receive updates on outage restoration by following the Ameren Illinois news feed at twitter.com/AmerenIllinois and Facebook.com/AmerenIllinois.
HOW AMEREN ILLINOIS SAFELY RESTORES POWER
- Priority one is to communicate with key stakeholders and respond to life-threatening emergencies, such as downed-wires, and to handle all problems impacting critical infrastructure such as hospitals and other emergency response facilities – police and fire.
- Once power is restored to critical infrastructure, crews focus on getting the most customers restored in the quickest and most efficient manner. Crews begin with main lines – those that can restore power to perhaps thousands of people – and then move to lines that affect hundreds, dozens and individual homes.
- This is why homes in the same neighborhoods may be restored at different times, as well as why businesses are sometimes restored first – because of their general location along primary power lines.
SAFETY
- Safety is the first and foremost concern during any weather event. Stay clear of any downed power lines or poles, as well as brush, shrubs and downed trees that may hide them. Always assume a downed wire is live.
- Customers should report any downed power lines to Ameren Illinois via the app or customer service line (800-755-500).
