March 7, 2012

11:30 a.m.

An estimated 3,892 Great Lakes Energy members remain without power late this morning after massive power line damage due to the storm that brought wet, heavy snow. Power has already been restored to an estimated 55,730 members since the storm hit Friday night. 

Most of the remaining outages are in parts of Antrim (1,104 out), Charlevoix (304), Crawford (971), Kalkaska (722), Lake (480), Oscoda (290) and Otsego (187) counties. 

Eight extra crews are on the job today which brings the total to 50 line and tree-trimming crews that are assisting all available Great Lakes Energy line crews in restoration efforts. The 50 crews include teams from other utilities in the state and private contractors. 

GLE officials are hopeful that the majority of remaining members will be back on by late tonight. 

The time it takes linemen to restore power to any given area is based on the number of other outage locations they must visit, the number of members affected at the other locations and accessibility to these trouble areas. Damages to the transmission lines, substations and trunk lines connected to the substations affect the greatest number of GLE members so repairs are made to this part of the system first. Smaller line sections or taps that serve fewer numbers of members are repaired next followed by individual outages that typically involve only a handful of members at any one location. This restoration strategy allows GLE to restore power to the greatest number of members in the shortest time possible. 

Current outage information by counties and townships that is updated every 15 minutes can be viewed on the Great Lakes Energy website, www.gtlakes.com, by clicking on Storm Central. 

Great Lakes Energy members are reminded to stay away from downed power lines for their safety and protection.

Phone lines may be busy due to the massive storm. Great Lakes Energy members who experience a busy signal when reporting their outage should continue calling the electric cooperative’s automated, toll-free outage number:  1-800-678-0411.