10:45 p.m, July 10
Outage numbers have fluctuated a bit during restoration work, with 67,000 customers without power at this time. As our overnight work continues and we restore more circuits, that number will continue to drop. Then, work to repair a number of individual issues affecting smaller numbers of customers, such as transformer damage, will begin.
We know it’s tough to be without your power this long, and we are so appreciative of our customers’ patience, and also of the support our crews have been receiving from customers. They will not let up until power has been restored to all who were impacted by last night’s severe weather.
This will be the last update tonight. Please see our outage map for the latest numbers overnight. We will post a new progress update here after 5 a.m.
9:45 p.m
OPPD crews and mutual aid partners are making great progress with outage restoration work. They had been working toward a goal of having two-thirds of impacted customers restored by midnight. But they reached that goal within the past half hour. Currently, about 62,000 customers are still without power. That’s down from a peak of more than 188,000 overnight.
OPPD’s team has been working safely in hazardous conditions including blocked roadways and pathways, downed trees and debris in power lines, and downed wires. To continue working safely, a number of our crews will be signing off to get some sleep tonight, as we add more help from surrounding utility partners. They will continue to work overnight, with freshly rested crews joining back in the restoration work tomorrow.
7:25 p.m.
Outage numbers are slowly, but steadily decreasing. Approximately 85,000 customers remain without power at this time. That’s down from a peak of more than 189,000 during the high winds our area experienced overnight.
Our crews are working to get through tree damage and clear it from power lines throughout our service territory in order to restore power to customers. This is one of the worst outage-related storms OPPD has experienced within its service territory. For comparison, the October 1997 snow storm knocked out power to 150,000 customers. That event sparked a change in our approach to storms, with a storm team comprised of employees from all across the company and a plan to address widespread outages, which is practiced regularly.
With these types of efforts and the support mutual aid from our public utility partners, we are making good headway with our restoration efforts. We expect to have power restored to two-thirds of customers impacted by midnight tonight, barring any unforeseen problems. We will continue to work as long as it takes. And we will post updates here.
5:30 p.m.
Our crews continue to respond to outages throughout our service territory this evening. More than 91,000 customers remain without power, down from a peak of more than 188,000 outages overnight. Outage numbers may fluctuate a bit during the restoration process and with the potential for more stormy weather. But our crews will not quit working until all are back online.
With winds of more than 90 miles per hour, the biggest problems we’re seeing include large trees and tree limbs interfering with power lines. That’s particularly an issue in older, more well-estabished neighborhoods with large trees. We have also seen equipment damaged by the wind itself. Just accessing areas with outages is proving difficult in some cases, due to downed trees and debris.
We greatly appreciate our customers’ patience and the kindness they’ve shown our crews while working in tough conditions. It’s a dangerous job. They will keep working as quickly and safely as possible because we know how important electricity is to our daily lives – for health and safety, for comfort, and for staying connected.
We will continue to pot updates here as we learn more. Meanwhile, please reference our outage map for the latest numbers.
3:45 p.m.
Outage numbers continue to fall and more customers are regaining power Saturday. At this time, nearly 50% of all outages have been restored, or 90,413. Approximately 97,000 customers remain without power.
Nearly 300 line personnel and tree trimming personnel are working to restore power into night, including assistance from area utilities and contractors. This assistance is through our mutual aid arrangements throughout the industry.
1:30 p.m.
Homeowners using generators are asked to follow safety guidelines regarding the equipment for their safety and the safety of OPPD personnel. Employees doing restoration work have reported seeing generators in use.
The outage restoration process has progressed well, with more than 78,000 customers restored since early this morning. At its peak, the storm outages numbered approximately 188,000. The total without power now stands at around 110,000.
As crews repair and assess damage, they are seeing significant tree damage and interference with power lines. If you have a downed line on your property, or a tree interfering with a line, report it to OPPD either online at oppd.com or by calling 1-800-554-6773.
We cannot stress this enough: IF YOU ENCOUNTER A DOWNED POWER LINE DO NOT APPROACH IT. ALWAYS TREAT A DOWNED LINE AS IF IT IS ENERGIZED.
12:20 p.m., Saturday, July 10, 2021
Hundreds of OPPD crews and personnel, with assistance from partner utilities and contractors, have made significant progress on outages following an overnight storm.
At this time, crews have brought power back to more than 70,000 customers from a peak high of 188,000 earlier this morning. Outage numbers now total approximately 119,000 customers.
Our employees in the field are reporting downed power lines in homeowners’ yards as cleanup begins. We cannot stress this enough: IF YOU ENCOUNTER A DOWNED POWER LINE DO NOT APPROACH IT. ALWAYS TREAT A DOWNED LINE AS IF IT IS ENERGIZED.
10:45 a.m.
Outage numbers continue to fall, now numbering about 137,000 customers after a high of 188,000.
We are working with our peer utilities in order to have more crews join our restoration efforts.
8:30 a.m.
OPPD crews are fanning out across the service territory, and we are making progress, to restore outages to approximately 158,000 customers. While restoration is underway, full restoration could take multiple days in some areas due to the complexity and extent of the storm damage.
We understand how frustrating this situation can be, and we want you to be safe. If you have medical issues that require electricity, please make arrangements with friends or family who have power. If you have an emergency medical issue that needs electricity, please go to the hospital or call 911.
6:15 a.m.
While we are working to restore power as quickly and safely as possible, full restoration across the service territory could take multiple days due to the complexity and extent of the storm damage.
We understand the uncertainty and inconvenience this may cause, but we would like you to plan accordingly, knowing we’re working around the clock to restore power. There are currently a little over 170,000 customers without power, down from a peak of approximately 188,000.
All of our crews are reporting to OPPD service centers and being dispatched for restoration calls. OPPD is reaching out to other utilities for additional resources to help expedite work. Outages are prioritized by number of customers affected on a circuit, so we can bring back the largest number of customers at one time.
This storm is one of the most severe OPPD has seen in recent history. By comparison, the Father’s Day tornado in 2017 had outage numbers around 75,000. Today’s numbers are more than double that amount. Overnight, wind gusts of over 90 miles-per-hour were detected, classifying them as hurricane force.
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Mientras estamos trabajando para restaurar la energia de la manera mas rapida y segura posible, la restauracion completa en todo el territorio de servicio podria llevar varios dias debido a la complejidad y extension de los danos de la tormenta.
Entendemos la incertidumbre y las inconvenienceas que esto puede causar, pero nos gustaria que planificaran en consecuencia, sabiendo que estamos trabajando las 24 horas del dia para restablecer la energia. Actualmente hay pocos mas de 170,000 clientes sin electricidad, por debajo del punto maximo de 188,000.
Todos nuestros equipos estan reportando a los centros de servicio de OPPD y estan siendo enviados para llamadas de restauracion. OPPD esta comunicando con otras empresas de servicios publicos para obtener recursos adicionales para ayudar a acelerar el trabajo. Las interrupciones se priorizan por la cantidad de clientes en un circuito, para poder a recuperar la mayor cantidad de clientes a la vez.
Esta tormenta es una de las mas severas que OPPD ha visto en la historia reciente. En comparacion, el tornado del Dia del Padre en 2017 tuvo alrededor de 75,000 interrupciones. La tormenta de hoy son mas de doble de esa cantidad. Durante la noche, se dectectaron rafagas de viento de mas de 90 millas por hora, clasificando como fuerza de un huracan.
4:30 a.m.
As daylight approaches, we are seeing some progress on outages related to severe weather overnight. At this time, a little over 177,000 customers are without power. There is considerable, widespread damage to trees and vegetation throughout the OPPD service territory. Be cautious when traveling roads and streets. DO NOT APPROACH A DOWNED POWER LINE UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.
This storm is one of the most severe OPPD has seen in recent history. By comparison, the Father’s Day tornado in 2017 had outage numbers around 75,000. Today’s numbers are more than double that amount. Overnight, wind gusts of over 90 miles-per-hour were detected, classifying them as hurricane force.
We will have a better picture of the damage once daylight comes and we will be updating frequently here and on social media.
If you experience an outage, report it online at oppd.com or by calling 1-800-554-6773.
3:15 a.m.
Due to the severe tree damage and high winds, which caused widespread outages, OPPD operations are assessing the impact of strong thunderstorms that moved through the area early this morning. At this time, more than 180,000 customers are without power.
We will be assessing damage as quickly and safely as possible. Please be aware that there are many tree limbs and debris littering roads and streets, which will complicate the restoration process. Downed power lines may also be present. DO NOT APPROACH A DOWNED POWER LINE UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.
All OPPD line crews and tree-trimming crews are being called in to work on restoration.
If you experience an outage, report it online at oppd.com or by calling 1-800-554-6773.
12:53 a.m., Saturday, July 10, 2021
A strong thunderstorm system moving through the area is leaving widespread power outages in its wake. At this time, 170,911 OPPD customers are without power.
OPPD operations are swinging into action to address the outages, calling in crews and assessing damage. Due to the continuing dangerous weather, crews will be in the field as quickly and safely as possible.
If you should experience an outage, report it online at oppd.com or call 1800-554-6773.
