Lights Back On for 36,000 in 27 Hours

PEORIA, Ill., June 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- While Ameren Illinois Utilities (AmerenCIPS, AmerenCILCO, AmerenIP) field crews are working to reenergize Central Illinois by tonight, the utilities remain on high alert as the threat of additional severe weather continues throughout the day and into the evening.

Since the damaging storms swept through Central Illinois yesterday morning, the Ameren Illinois Utilities (AIU) have restored service to more than 36,000 customers. At 10:00 a.m. today, about 7,300 customers are still without lights. Most of the remaining outages are in Knox, Peoria and Warren counties.

Though it is anticipated nearly all customers will have service restored by tonight, some isolated outages are expected to continue into tomorrow. If severe weather develops later today or overnight, new outages may result. Also, severe weather could hamper efforts to restore service to those who are now without lights. AIU personnel and contractor allies remain on alert, prepared to respond to any new weather-related service outages.

'We appreciate the patience and understanding of our customers as we work 16- to 18-hour days to get the lights back on for everyone,' said Bill Prebil, Ameren Illinois Utilities (AIU) vice president of Regional Operations.

'For safety's sake, we urge customers to check on neighbors, relatives and friends who are still without power, especially the elderly and those with medical conditions. This is especially important with high temperatures expected to reach into the 90s.'

AIU has deployed three Storm Trailers in Peoria County. The Storm Trailers are mobile storerooms, stocked with the material field crews need to get the lights back on. The trailers can be moved to central staging sites to provide essential materials in those areas with the greatest damage.

Residents also are reminded that safety must be the first priority when using portable generators. Never operate a portable generator indoors.