The April 29 storm that resulted in power outages to more than half of City Utilities of Springfield, Mo., customers has been confirmed as the most destructive weather event to impact the system since the historic ice storm of 2007.
Around 62,000 customers experienced power outages due to widespread damage across the electric system, which was more than previously estimated, the public power utility said on May 29.
Preliminary estimates place the total damage between $9 million and $11 million, which includes $1.27 million in material costs alone. These materials include replacement utility poles, transformers, and wire necessary to rebuild the damaged electric distribution system.
In total, crews replaced:
• 267 broken utility poles
• 111,800 feet of wire
• 175 transformers
By comparison, the 2007 ice storm required replacement of 330 poles, 330,000 feet of wire, and 129 transformers—underscoring the severity of the April 29 event.
City Utilities is actively seeking reimbursement from FEMA and SEMA to help offset the extensive costs incurred. City Utilities also maintains contingency budgets for emergency situations like this, it noted.
During the event, power restoration was prioritized and completed as quickly and safely as possible. Crews are now focused on continued cleanup, which includes collecting and disposing of utility-related materials left behind and completing non-critical repairs that were deferred during the initial restoration efforts.
“City Utilities is grateful for the community’s patience and support throughout this challenging event and recognizes the dedication of the crews who worked around the clock to restore service,” it said.
