Over 10,000 Great Lakes Energy Members Still Without Power

Aug. 3, 2015 – 4:30 p.m.
 
Over 10,000 Great Lakes Energy members remain without power late Monday afternoon in parts of 12 counties following damaging storms that raced across the state throughout the day on Sunday.
Most of the outages are in parts of Antrim, Crawford and Kalkaska counties that were among the areas hardest hit by the last round of severe storms that rolled in late Sunday afternoon.
Since Sunday morning, nearly 32,000 Great Lakes Energy members in all 26 counties served by the electric cooperative were affected by the storms with crews able to restore power to an estimated 21,797 so far. Its service area stretches along the entire western side of the lower peninsula.
Not everyone is expected to have their power restored today due to the severity of the power line damage and the large, widespread areas still affected (parts of 12 counties).
Assisted by extra crews, Great Lakes Energy lineworkers will attempt to get as many members as possible back on today.  There are 46 extra crews on the job today assisting in the restoration. Half of them are tree-trimming crews.  Additional line repair workers include GLE crews from the electric cooperative’s other service areas, crews from other electric cooperatives in Michigan and contractor crews.
Great Lakes Energy members are reminded to stay away from downed power lines and also stay clear of trees and limbs that are hanging on the lines.
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.
GLE members should report their outage by calling the electric cooperative’s automated, toll-free outage number:  1-800-678-0411.