7:30 a.m., Aug. 9, 2024
OPPD restored all storm-related power outages by Thursday evening. We may continue to see small outages pop up here or there due to wind-weakened tree limbs breaking away and interfering with power equipment. We had more than 221,000 outages at the peak Wednesday, July 31.
Please continue to report outages at OPPD.com, our OPPDConnect app, or by calling our automated outage reporting line at 800-554-OPPD (6773).
6 p.m., Aug. 8, 2024
We are nearing the finish line with power outage restoration following the historic wind storm our area experienced the evening of Wednesday, July 31. The remaining outages are likely due to after-effects of the storm, like weakened branches giving way
The storm was unlike any other that we’ve experienced before in terms of sustained high winds, hurricane-force gusts and the amount of our service territory that sustained damage – 1,805 square miles. We had more than 221,000 power outages at the peak of this event, just before 9 p.m. on Wednesday, July 31. We didn’t wait to put out calls for mutual aid and tree crews to support restoration that night, knowing what kind of work was ahead of us.
Our crews’ work to restore power began as soon as the threat had passed and by the next morning, we were at under 168,000 power outages. Mutual aid crews joined in our efforts the day after the storm passed, and more in the following days. And within 24 hours of the storm hitting, our crews had restored power to more than 134,000 customers, 60% of those who had been impacted. At that time, we still had nearly 87,000 customers in the dark and without air conditioning during extremely hot weather. Whether our employees were, themselves, without power, or supporting others experiencing outages, we all understood how life-altering and difficult being without electricity is. That’s why we take our responsibility to power our communities so very seriously.
Help continued to arrive at our staging area set up in the parking lot of Baxter arena. Crews rolled in from a number fellow public power providers in Nebraska in addition to many electrical contractors from our area. They came from outside of our area, too, from as far away as Ohio and Wisconsin. All told, 175 mutual aid crews and 184 tree crews joined us until we had a team of 1,500 strong working on power restoration — from our employees on the front lines and behind the scenes. Less visible OPPD teams coordinated hotel stays, water and Gatorade, meals and snacks, as well as a staging area for crews coming in from other places. Others ordered supplies needed to replace poles, restring wires and make other repairs. Others worked with customers over the phone to provide information, take outage reports and provide progress updates as possible. Others worked on social media and media communication to reach our customers through those channels. And others worked hard at our power plants to ensure we kept generating the power our customers need 24-7.
OPPD focused on making repairs that would restore the most customers first, making their way to more complicated repairs that took longer even though they restored fewer customers. That’s a tough thing to explain to customers who had been inconvenienced for so long, particularly with such hot and humid weather, and they were always on our minds as our crews worked as quickly as safely possible to bring their power back. These conditions were tough for our crews, as well. But they continued to work round-the-clock in 16-hour shifts, as numbers slowly but steadily declined. By Monday, Aug. 5, outages were down to just under 16,000 customers. By Wednesday, Aug. 7, they dipped below 1,000. And by this morning (Thursday, Aug. 8), fewer than 200 customers were without power.
Whether several dozen, several thousand, or a couple hundred thousand customers are without service, we work just as hard. Every single customer is extremely important to us, and we will not let up until you have power once again. Meantime, we cannot express our thanks enough to those who have been patient with our work and who have offered kind thoughts and words for our team. You’re the reason we do what we do, and we’re proud to serve you whether in stormy or sunny weather. After five major storms this year, let’s hope for less stormy and more sunny skies going forward! 
4:30 p.m. – Our crews are working to restore power to 77 customers who now remain without power. Meantime, we have been receiving some reports of customers calling in who thought that we are providing bill credits. To clarify, OPPD does not offer “bill credits,” but we do not charge for energy that our customers do not uese. If a customer pays a variable bill every month based on the energy they use, the decreased usage would be reflected on their next billing statement. If they are on a level payment plan, the decreased usage would factor in during their next annual adjustment.
Please continue to report any new or recurrent outages if you have not already done so, via the channels listed below.
1:55 p.m. – At this time, we have 93 power outages and are nearing what we believe to be full restoration from last Wednesday’s storms. But before we declare victory, we ask any customers whose power remains out to report their outage at OPPD.com, our OPPDConnect app, or by calling our automated outage reporting line at 800-554-OPPD (6773).
10:45 a.m. – There are still 183 outages remaining after Wednesday night’s storm as our crews continue restoration work on this 8th day. We have restored power ot more than 99% of the 221,000 customers who lost power as a result of that storm. Our outage map may reflect additional outages that are unrelated to that event.
We promise that we won’t let up until every single customer has electricity again. We are still expecting that to be by some time on Friday, barring any unexpected complications.
OPPD urges safety around trees that have already been weakened by the severe weather our area has experienced. Trees or branches could come down with winds that are not nearly as strong as we experienced last week. They could also cause additional outages.
If you are still without power, lost power again after having it restored, or have a new outage, please let us know. You can do that at OPPD.com, our OPPDConnect app, or by calling our automated outage reporting line at 800-554-OPPD (6773).
In the words of one of our field crew supervisors, “The guys now the job’s not done until it’s done.” All available OPPD line crews, 42, are on-site making repairs where still needed. We also have 7 paired up metro troubleshooter teams, 24 wires down crews, with meter tech, streetlight workers and substation works, as well, and mutual aid teams supporting this effort. They will be working round-the-clock until all customers are back online.
Those working to restore power have relayed their thanks to our customers for the patience and kindness they’ve shown during some extremely trying days. We know how difficult it is to be without something as critical to our day-to-day lives as electricity. And we do not take our responsibilty to provide it lightly.
7 a.m.- As of last night, storm-related outages were down to 394. This morning’s map shows a higher number; however, that may reflect new outages unrelated to the storm. We’ve also had some power outages over this past week that were a result of storm-weakened tree limbs giving way and interfering with power lines.
At the peak of outages, 221,000 customers were without power — the most devastating storm in terms of power outages that OPPD has ever seen. Our crews have continued work round-the-clock to bring power back to those who have been without it for so long.
If you are still without power, lost power again after having it restored, or have a new outage, please let us know. You can do that at OPPD.com, our OPPDConnect app, or by calling our automated outage reporting line at 800-554-OPPD (6773).
We want our customers to be aware of scammers who are trying to take advantage of the situation. When there are high-profile, news-making outage situations, scammers tend to come out of the woodwork. They are calling or texting our customers with various claims, like the need to pay for service reconnection or equipment. This is not the case. These callers are often aggressive, telling customers if they don’t pay over the phone with a pre-paid debit, gift or credit card or provide other banking information, they will disconnect service soon. Do not fall for these ploys. NEVER provide personal or financial information during an unsolicited phone call. ALWAYS hang up.
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