Public power utilities in the Midwest have made significant progress in restoring power to customers in the wake of recent storms that hit the region.
Kansas City, Kansas, on Sunday, July 31, was hit by a storm carrying 70 mph winds that knocked out power to over 12,000 Kansas City BPU customers. An estimated 100,000 utility customers lost power throughout the metro area.
BPU on Aug. 2 reported that 72 customers left "and some of those will need electrical work done before we can safely restore power," said David Mehlhaff, Chief Communications Officer for the utility.
Crews from the Kansas municipal cities Wamego and Winfield have been assisting BPU with restoration efforts.
In neighboring Missouri, City Utilities of Springfield, Mo., reported on July 31 that strong winds, between 60-70 mph, caused widespread damage to its service territory.
Crews from Columbia Water & Light, Independence, Mo., Kirkwood, Mo., and Hannibal, Mo., joined the restorations efforts to help City Utilities.
CU reported that on Aug. 1, 4,600 customers were without power, but on Aug. 2, City Utilities reported that 170 customers remained without power. All 40 crews, including CU, mutual aid, and contract crews, will continue to make repairs throughout the day, CU said in a tweet on Aug. 2. “We expect to complete the restoration efforts today for customers who can accept power.”
In Illinois, crews and a supervisor from Illinois public power utility Springfield City Water, Light and Power on July 31 traveled to assist with power restoration for investor-owned Ameren Illinois in that utility’s southern Illinois service territory.
A severe storm cut through the region late on July 31 causing power outages for more than 50,000 customers.
