Tuesday, June 10, 2008
News
Nearly 3,000 still without power
By Michael Peterson Argus-Press Staff Writer
OWOSSO - Approximately 2,600 Consumers Energy customers in Shiawassee County are without power due to three separate thunderstorms that moved across the state since Friday afternoon.
Timothy Pietryga, a Consumers Energy spokesman, said it is estimated all power will be restored by 11 p.m. Wednesday.
There are 69 different interruptions, which are areas that need repairs for power to be restored.
Utility, line clearing and contract crews will be sent to restore power, with 70 additional crews from Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio assisting.
“The causes for these interruptions vary,” Pietryga said. “Some of the outages were caused by lightning or trees falling on the lines. In a lot of cases we are getting down to where we need to make major repairs or full replacements. And when we have trees down, the crews need to bring in forestry crews to clear the lines of the trees before we can do the electric restoration work.”
Pietryga said many of the power outages are scattered throughout the county. The largest number of customers without power are in Byron, with 650 customers without power due to two separate outages.
Outages also include, according to Pietryga, 500 in Morrice, 150 in Bennington, 36 in Durand and 29 in Elsie.
Shiawassee County was one of the places that was hit the hardest, along with Flint, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Lansing and Saginaw.
Pietryga also cautioned area residents to aviod touching any downed wires.
“If you see a line, assume it is an electric line and that it is energized,” Pietryga said. “Stay away and report them to Consumers Energy or local law enforcement agencies.”
Residents can contact Consumers Energy at (800) 477-5050.
- Contact Michael Peterson at 725-5136 extension 223 or mpetersonarguspress@gmail.com.
Timothy Pietryga, a Consumers Energy spokesman, said it is estimated all power will be restored by 11 p.m. Wednesday.
There are 69 different interruptions, which are areas that need repairs for power to be restored.
Utility, line clearing and contract crews will be sent to restore power, with 70 additional crews from Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio assisting.
“The causes for these interruptions vary,” Pietryga said. “Some of the outages were caused by lightning or trees falling on the lines. In a lot of cases we are getting down to where we need to make major repairs or full replacements. And when we have trees down, the crews need to bring in forestry crews to clear the lines of the trees before we can do the electric restoration work.”
Pietryga said many of the power outages are scattered throughout the county. The largest number of customers without power are in Byron, with 650 customers without power due to two separate outages.
Outages also include, according to Pietryga, 500 in Morrice, 150 in Bennington, 36 in Durand and 29 in Elsie.
Shiawassee County was one of the places that was hit the hardest, along with Flint, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Lansing and Saginaw.
Pietryga also cautioned area residents to aviod touching any downed wires.
“If you see a line, assume it is an electric line and that it is energized,” Pietryga said. “Stay away and report them to Consumers Energy or local law enforcement agencies.”
Residents can contact Consumers Energy at (800) 477-5050.
- Contact Michael Peterson at 725-5136 extension 223 or mpetersonarguspress@gmail.com.