In a recent government meeting, officials provided a stark overview of the power outages experienced during a severe weather event, revealing that at the peak, over 35,000 customers were without electricity—nearly 50% of the service area. This unprecedented outage surpassed the annual average of 25,000 outages, highlighting the scale of the crisis.

The response from utility crews was swift, with the number of customers without power dropping to 8,000 within 12 hours. Officials emphasized the critical nature of the restoration efforts, noting that the initial phase focused on restoring power to the largest number of customers as quickly as possible, rather than targeting the hardest-hit areas first. This approach is standard in the industry, aimed at minimizing the overall impact on the community.

Despite the rapid response, challenges remain as crews now face the more complex task of addressing individual service line and meter base damages. Officials indicated that while significant progress has been made, the restoration process will continue over the coming weeks, particularly for those customers affected by more severe damage.

The meeting also addressed safety concerns, with officials reporting two fatalities linked to the restoration efforts due to hazardous conditions. This underscores the dangers faced by utility workers during such emergencies.

As the situation evolves, officials are committed to keeping the public informed and ensuring that power is restored as efficiently and safely as possible.