SUNDAY INTO MONDAY. ALL RIGHT. WELL, NOW TO OUR REPORTERS IN THE FIELD. FIRST WE GO TO ANDY ALCOCK. AND ANDY YOU’RE LIVE OUTSIDE EVERGY SERVICE CENTER ON FRONT STREET. EMPLOYEES THERE ARE PREPARING FOR A POTENTIALLY MULTI-DAY POWER RESTORATION EFFORT. YES, KELLY, WE ARE TOLD THERE ARE GOING TO BE ROUGHLY 1000 LINE AND VEGETATION CONTRACTORS MOBILIZED AND READY TO HELP EVERGY CREWS GET THE POWER BACK ON AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE, IF NECESSARY. EARLIER TODAY, WE WERE BEHIND A HOME IN OLATHE WHERE THE POWER WAS OUT. WORKERS REPLACED A BROKEN TRANSFORMER TO RESTORE POWER. PART OF A NORMAL DAY’S WORK, ACCORDING TO EVERGY, THERE’S A PROCESS INVOLVED TROUBLESHOOTERS AND SOMETIMES DAMAGE ASSESSMENT. CREWS ARE SENT TO FIGURE OUT THE OUTAGE CAUSED. NOW, THOSE PEOPLE MAY COME AND LEAVE. CREWS THEN FOLLOW TO REPAIR OR REPLACE EQUIPMENT IF NEEDED. SOMETIMES TREE TRIMMING CREWS MUST REMOVE TREES OR LIMBS BEFORE POWER CAN BE RESTORED, AND FOLLOWING A MAJOR STORM LIKE WE’RE EXPECTING, SOMETIMES PARTS HAVE TO BE COMPLETELY REBUILT. IN THOSE INSTANCES, THE WORK MAY TAKE MANY HOURS TO COMPLETE. IF WE GET THAT NICE DRY, WHITE POWDERY SNOW AND VERY LITTLE WIND, IT’S NOT LIKELY WE’RE GOING TO SEE SIGNIFICANT OUTAGES. IF WE GET HEAVY, WET SNOW THAT CAN ACCUMULATE ON TREE BRANCHES OR POWER LINES THAT CAN CAUSE OUTAGES. IF YOU GET THE ICE FIRST THAT BUILDS UP ON POWER LINES AND BRANCHES, COMBINED WITH HIGH WINDS, THAT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF OUTAGES. AND TO GIVE YOU SOME IDEA OF WHAT EVERGY MIGHT BE FACING IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS, THE UTILITY HAS 1.7 MILLION CUSTOMERS IN KANSAS AND MISSOURI. ANOTHER FACTOR, WHICH COULD SLOW DOWN ANY POTENTIAL POWER OUTAGES BEING RESTORED IS AFTER THE STORM PASSES. WE ARE EXPECTING BITTERL
Kansas City-area utilities prepare for possible power outages
Updated: 5:11 PM CST Jan 3, 2025
With the first major winter storm of the season bearing down on the metro area, utilities are preparing for the possibility of widespread power outages.Evergy, with 1.7 million customers in Kansas and Missouri, is planning for a multi-day power restoration effort.The utility has nearly 1,000 contractors on standby to help with that effort.“There are a few different scenarios. If we get that nice, dry, white, powdery snow and very little wind, it’s not likely we’re going to see significant outages. If we get heavy, wet snow that can accumulate on tree branches or power lines, that can cause outages,” said Courtney Lewis, Evergy senior communications manager. “If you get the ice first that builds up on power lines and branches, combined with high winds, that has the potential to cause a significant amount of outages.”Lewis said with bitterly cold temperatures expected after the storm, power restoration efforts could be slowed.For that reason, Evergy recommends customers have their own emergency plan for a prolonged power outage.The utility recommends downloading Evergy’s mobile app to easily report outages and to keep track of where crews are working.Evergy also recommends customers have an emergency kit stocked with water, non-perishable food, prescription medications, fresh batteries, a battery-powered radio, flashlight, first aid kit and a cell phone charger or power bank.Lewis also said if customers see a downed power line to stay at least 30 feet away from it.“A lot of times people are caught by surprise and the power goes out or something happens and they’re not sure what they should do or how they can connect with their family members. Have a plan in place before that,” Lewis said.The Board of Public Utilities in Kansas City, Kansas also has contractors lined up ready to support power restoration efforts if necessary.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. —With the first major winter storm of the season bearing down on the metro area, utilities are preparing for the possibility of widespread power outages.
Evergy, with 1.7 million customers in Kansas and Missouri, is planning for a multi-day power restoration effort.
The utility has nearly 1,000 contractors on standby to help with that effort.
“There are a few different scenarios. If we get that nice, dry, white, powdery snow and very little wind, it’s not likely we’re going to see significant outages. If we get heavy, wet snow that can accumulate on tree branches or power lines, that can cause outages,” said Courtney Lewis, Evergy senior communications manager. “If you get the ice first that builds up on power lines and branches, combined with high winds, that has the potential to cause a significant amount of outages.”
Lewis said with bitterly cold temperatures expected after the storm, power restoration efforts could be slowed.
For that reason, Evergy recommends customers have their own emergency plan for a prolonged power outage.
The utility recommends downloading Evergy’s mobile app to easily report outages and to keep track of where crews are working.
Evergy also recommends customers have an emergency kit stocked with water, non-perishable food, prescription medications, fresh batteries, a battery-powered radio, flashlight, first aid kit and a cell phone charger or power bank.
Lewis also said if customers see a downed power line to stay at least 30 feet away from it.
“A lot of times people are caught by surprise and the power goes out or something happens and they’re not sure what they should do or how they can connect with their family members. Have a plan in place before that,” Lewis said.
The Board of Public Utilities in Kansas City, Kansas also has contractors lined up ready to support power restoration efforts if necessary.
