AEP Update 1:30pm Sunday; Power outages remain - Hometownstations.com-WLIO- Lima, OH News Weather Sports

Here are the numbers of outages in each area.  I do not have field estimated restoration times as of yet, but hope to have those for you very soon.  The estimates that are on aepohio.com (scroll down until restoration times for each area)  are projected estimates showing 90% restoration (meaning 90% of customers should be restored by July 7th).  This estimate could change/reduce once the transmission is restored and additional crews from other areas within Western Ohio move into other areas to assist.

A number of outside resources arrived yesterday and today in Findlay, Lima and Van Wert areas which will expedite restoration.  

Approximately 300 transmission structures are down within Western Ohio district.  Once these have been replaced restoring service to the substation, distribution restoration should move smoothly.  Transmission issues are in the Van Wert, Haviland, Kalida, Ottawa and Columbus Grove areas.

This storm/restoration efforts is being compared with Hurricane Ike with this storm being worse.  The wind speeds during Hurricane Ike topped out at 75 mph whereas wind speeds during this storm topped out at 85 mph.  This storm came in fast and with a force whereas Ike continued throughout the day with wind gusts, not continuous blast.  The weather conditions after Ike were ideal for restoration efforts while the weather conditions so far have been humid and very hot.  Additional storms have crossed the service territory.  

Shelters have been established around the service territory and can be found on our website.  

The National Guard and others have begun to go door to door to check on customers to be sure they have water, food and a working phone in case they would need to call 9-1-1.  AEP Ohio and other utilities provided the PUCO with a list of life support customers.  AEP Ohio has also stressed in the press releases distributed thus far that neighbors/family members need to check on their elderly family members and neighbors.

Shelly Clark
AEP Ohio Corporate Communications