The call volume continues at a frenzied pace. Dozens of contract crews were throughout our territory supplementing the work of our own line crews. We worry about the long hours on the line crews, and remind them to stay safe. Hopefully the procedures they've practiced all year long will help to keep them safe when they're tired. In the office, groups of employees make box lunches for delivery to crews in the field.
Engineers work with operations staff to create a new plan to outsmart the pockets of damage.
All the while the insistent whine of the sonar phone system fills the background. The damage is so widespread that line crews can work hours to restore power to a handful of customers. Media reports quote numbers as high as 250,000 for people without power across the state. Some have spent the day in darkened cubicles, dealing with their own storm related problems. United Power crews have worked all day beside contract crews to repair damage to areas where they can make the quickest impact.