What Electric Companies Learned From Wind Storm

Over fIve days last week Chugach Electric took more than 11,000 phone calls

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By Heather Hintze
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Story Created: Sep 12, 2012 at 7:01 PM AKDT

Story Updated: Sep 12, 2012 at 7:04 PM AKDT

ANCHORAGE - When trees and power lines started coming down calls to utility companies skyrocketed. Over fIve days last week Chugach Electric took more than 11,000 phone calls.

“We appreciate those folks and their perseverance in getting through to us, and we also know there were calls we weren't able to answer and that was a frustration to folks, and we apologize for that and that's not a good situation for anyone,” said Phil Steyer, corporate communications director for Chugach Electric.

Anchorage Municipal Light and Power would take taken thousands of calls as well, expect its phone system went down.

“We could see calls were coming in but they were not going through. We'd see 300 calls try to come in and we brought people in to staff it 24 hours a day, but they only got 15 to 20 calls,” said James Posey, general manager of ML&P.

The phone system is one area the company says needs improvement. Posey said under the circumstances crews were as prepared as they could be. He said some were sent into neighborhoods to find outages since customers were unable to call in.

Chugach Electric said every outage is different and what made this storm unique was the soft, wet ground and fully leafed trees that couldn’t stand up to the high winds.

“The trees tipped over at the root, something that is very unusual for us. So we've had that experience from this storm and can only make us better prepared for the next,” said Steyer.

Steyer said the storm could cost Chugach Electric more than a million dollars. The city is still collecting data to see if it can apply for any state or federal aid. Steyer said any relief money would be beneficial so the company doesn’t have to pass on storm costs to customers.
 

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Anonymous said on Thursday, Sep 13 at 10:48 AM

I thought the electric plant and the water plant had some plans to have the military come in and install back up generators to help the electric and water get to the city - this was the 70's...may be someone that worked there has the paperwork still... and knowing the military they still have the machines in some warehouse...so get working...put unemployed vets to work and make Uncle Sam put in the backup systems that are collecting dust...military can work with utility!

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Dear JD, said on Thursday, Sep 13 at 8:11 AM

It wasn't Mr Electric's fault either...

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Guest said on Thursday, Sep 13 at 8:10 AM

Undergrounding is already being done...takes time. Look at your bill, you're paying for the process.

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JD said on Thursday, Sep 13 at 2:07 AM

Pass on to the customer,like it was our fault? Utility companies are already gouging the consumer. Suck it up Mr Electric and dont give yourself a raise this year!!

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Kevin S said on Wednesday, Sep 12 at 10:19 PM

Put the power lines underground and this won't happen any more.

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JK said on Wednesday, Sep 12 at 8:52 PM

The federal government is borrowing the money that they will disburse "so the company doesn’t have to pass on storm costs to customers". How does this make any sense whatsoever? We are drowning in federal debt which rose $4.899 trillion during the two terms (8 years) of the Bush presidency. It has now gone up $4.939 trillion since President Obama took office (less than 4!!!).

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