Storm shuts power for 85,000 Northern Illinois homes
ComEd Restores Power to 90 Percent of Customers Impacted by Severe storm. Customers encouraged to report any remaining outages or downed power lines sightings. Damage hits neighborhoods in Arlington Heights, Rockford, Dixon, and Mt. Prospect
Following a fast-moving storm with wind gusts as strong as 70 mph that swept through northern Illinois late Wednesday (May 17, 2017) evening and into early Thursday (May 18) morning, nearly 85,000 customers were left without power. Within less than 24 hours from the start of the storm, more than 400 ComEd crews have restored power to 79,000 customers affected.
ComEd and contractor crews will continue to work throughout this evening to restore power to the approximately 3,900 customers who remain without service, especially those in hardest hit areas, including Arlington Heights, Rockford, Dixon, and Mt. Prospect, where extensive damage to trees, power poles and down powerlines have made restoration difficult.
Based on storms of similar size and magnitude, ComEd expects that most customers impacted by last night’s storm will have power restored overnight, with the remaining customers in pockets of the hardest hit areas and some impacted by additional high winds today, restored throughout the day Friday.
Electrical power lines. Photo courtesy of Ray Hanania“This storm caused some severe damage to trees and powerlines and our crews are continuously working to make necessary repairs to restore service as safely and quickly as possible to those who remain without power. We recognize that power outages are never convenient and we appreciate our customers’ patience as we repair the damaged cause by last night’s severe weather,” said Terence R. Donnelly, executive vice president and chief operating officer, ComEd.
Public safety is paramount during storms. ComEd asks the public to continue to report any outages or safety concerns and remember to take the following precautions as clean-up continues:
- If you encounter a downed power line, immediately call ComEd at 1-800-EDISON1 (1-800-334-7661). Spanish-speaking customers should call 1-800-95-LUCES (1-800-955-8237).
- Never approach a downed power line. Always assume a power line is energized and extremely dangerous.
- In the event of an outage, please do not approach ComEd crews working to restore power to ask about restoration times. Crews may be working on live electrical equipment and the perimeter of the work zone may be hazardous.
ComEd urges customers to contact the utility immediately if they experience a power outage. Customers can text OUT to 26633 (COMED) to report their outage and receive restoration information, and can follow the company on Twitter @ComEd or on Facebook at Facebook.com/ComEd. Customers can also call 1-800 EDISON1 (1-800-334-7661), or report outages via the website at www.ComEd.com/report. Spanish-speaking customers should call 1-800-95-LUCES (1-800-955-8237).
ComEd has an interactive outage map on its website at www.comed.com/map, which allows customers to easily find information on the location and size of outages and get estimated power restoration times. Additionally, ComEd has introduced a mobile app for iPhone and Android® smart phones that gives customers the ability to report power outages and manage their accounts; download the app at www.comed.com/app.
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Hanania also writes about Middle East issues for the Arab News, and The Arab Daily News criticizing government policies in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Hanania was named "Best Ethnic American Columnist" by the New America Media in November 2007, and is the 2009 recipient of the SPJ National Sigma Delta Chi Award for column writing.
Email Ray Hanania at rghanania@gmail.com.
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