EVANSVILLE, Ind. – CenterPoint Energy has successfully restored power to the majority of its customers after a massive winter storm left over 61,000 without electricity in the Evansville area.
Crews worked around the clock for several days to address the widespread outages caused by heavy ice and snow that impacted power lines, poles, and transformers. More than 1,000 linemen, including teams from as far as Houston, Texas, were called in to assist with the restoration efforts.
One of the most significant challenges faced by the crews was the dangerous weather conditions. The accumulation of ice and snow not only hindered the pace of restoration but also posed serious safety risks to the linemen working in the field. CenterPoint Energy’s Vice President of Indiana Electric, Shane Bradford, explained the importance of taking extra precautions during such hazardous conditions.
“When they are working this type of storm, we weren’t expecting a half to three-quarters of an inch of ice,” Bradford said. “When you’re dealing with that, you have to be very cautious. You could slip, fall, or have a branch hit you. There’s a lot you have to be aware of when trying to restore service to customers.”
Despite the obstacles, Bradford noted that the restoration efforts were carried out with an emphasis on safety, which extended the timeline but ensured that workers were not put in unnecessary danger.
CenterPoint Energy officials called the storm the most severe in 15 years, with the number of outages marking the largest impact the company has seen in that time. The company expressed gratitude for the support provided by local officials and first responders, who assisted throughout the restoration process.
While the work is ongoing, power has been fully restored for most customers, bringing much-needed relief to the community. CenterPoint Energy continues to monitor the situation, ensuring that all remaining issues are resolved as quickly and safely as possible.
