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17,000+ area residents without power during Super Bowl
By James Ensign
james.ensign@lee.net
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UPDATED 10:24 p.m. BLOOMINGTON — Super Bowl Sunday fell silent for more than 17,000 customers of Corn Belt Energy and Ameren after widespread power outages were reported.

High wind and ice on the lines is a likely cause of the outages, spokesmen said Sunday night.

The outages included:

-- Approximately 5,300 households served by Ameren in western McLean and Tazewell counties, including Armington, Minier, Hopedale, Morton and the surrounding area, reported about 5:30 p.m.

-- About 3,500 Corn Belt Energy customers also lost power at the same time after Corn Belt’s energy supply from Ameren was interrupted, Corn Belt spokesman Dave Hawkinson said.

-- About 5,300 homes and business in the Colfax and Cooksville area lost power at 7:35 p.m., and Ameren spokesman Leigh Morris was not certain when power would be restored.

-- From 3,500 to 4,000 Corn Belt customers in eastern McLean County, including residents in Saybrook, Holder, Lexington were without powe about 8 p.m. Sunday. Hawkinson said. Zip codes affected included 61726, 28. 30. 37 and 44

“The specific cause for the outages hasn’t yet been determined, but it is no doubt due to downed lines due to the build up of ice and the windy conditions,” Morris said.

“Galloping lines resulting from ice build-up and winds causes the lines to slap together and eventually come down,” he said. “Crew have been dispatched and hope to have power restored as soon as possible,” Morris said.

“it’s too bad that it had to happen during the Super Bowl, but it’s just going to happen with weather conditions like this with the ice and winds,” he said.

Morris said that power had been restored to all but 1,800 of the western McLean County Ameren customers by 6 p.m.

Freakish weather

The sound of thunder, mixed with sleet and snow, greeted Central Illinois residents Sunday afternoon.

With the temperature lingering around 30 degrees, sporadic rain mixed with snow began to fall about 4 p.m., and was expected to turn into rain after midnight. Blommington-Normal received about 1 inch of snow, mixed with sleet and freezing rain, the National Weather Service office in Lincoln reported.

The National Weather Service forecast for today calls for a 30 percent chance of showers, with a high in the 50s and a low of 46. Breezy conditions are predicted with southeast winds 8 to 16 mph, with gusts of up to 28 mph.

Lightning strike reported

Problems caused by the weather were not limited to the utilities. Bloomington firefighters responded to a report of a lightning strike at Joe’s Towing, 2233 Springfield Road. There were no flames visible upon arrival, said assistant chief Rob Coleman.

“A lot of electronic equipment with substantial value was damaged,” he said. “But there was no fire or damage to the structure itself.

Coleman also said there was also a report of an arcing power line on a transformer near the Holiday Inn Express on Wylie Drive.

“Other than any damage to the transformer, there were no problems,” he said.

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Reader comments on this story - 58 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

to ? wrote on Feb 5, 2008 12:02 AM:

" hee hee, Tri-valley also has hoity-toity ideas, tho! "

how wrote on Feb 4, 2008 9:35 PM:

" the west was won "

? wrote on Feb 4, 2008 5:41 PM:

" Is Tri Point by Tri Valley? Just wondering. "

be thankful wrote on Feb 4, 2008 4:36 PM:

" to have electricity to complain about loosing. Could be worse, there may be some Patriots that loose more than a few hours of inconvienence, maybe their Jobs. Many ways to look at it, one person wanted his bill adjusted to account for the time he lost power, Think about it, if no power was delivered, the meter wasn't running, so no power is charged for. Just for the record, most who live in the cornfield consider watching TV a luxury instead of a necessity anyway and they are very proud of it. "

Amer-usomer wrote on Feb 4, 2008 3:17 PM:

" I think there was a brief notice that the power was going out. The lights were off for two seconds, and then a moment later the power was out as reported except for a few lights that i could see from out here. "

To Tri-Point wrote on Feb 4, 2008 2:51 PM:

" Instead of staying home during the day, maybe you should go back to school (elementary) and learn how to spell MORTGAGE. Have your kids loan you their dictionary!!! Bet they could spell it properly! "

To Try Point wrote on Feb 4, 2008 1:58 PM:

" Real nice house, pool, direct TV.....Dream on....... "

To Tri-Point wrote on Feb 4, 2008 1:38 PM:

" Gee, glad I don't live in Tri-Point. Did you have to fill out an application to apply for the position of 'SNOB'???????????? "

Tri-Point Res. wrote on Feb 4, 2008 1:20 PM:

" Why would I want to get a job. My taxes are low, my morgage is cheap, roof over my head, living in a super nice house w/ pool and oh yeah....my electricity is always on and so is my direct tv. So, I live an hour away and my children can be free to ride thier bikes to the park. If I need anything, I take a drive and support you poor folks with the high morgage defaults and shop in Bloomington. So, why would I ever want a job when I have a happy family here. :o) "

LEXINGTON wrote on Feb 4, 2008 12:51 PM:

" Well I can say that DAT Bar in Lexington came through for us. Thank you Dennis and Toni!!! The power went off once then back on and then off for good! They had a generator and we had a BLAST and got to watch the end of the game!! Best super bowl year ever! "

To Tri Point wrote on Feb 4, 2008 12:19 PM:

" House full of 6, and home all day???? Get a job "

responder to west side hoodie~ wrote on Feb 4, 2008 12:07 PM:

" WOW! Thanks for 'schooling" me with your intelligent, mature post! It freaked me out, no doubt about it. "

Country Resident wrote on Feb 4, 2008 12:01 PM:

" We spent the 14+ hours listening to the Cornbelt lineman on our battery operated scanner. The one thing that we learned is that the Ameran lineman apparently didn't want to miss the game and couldn't bother to go out. They also made it sound like the problem was not weather related. Even though we were in the dark and getting a little cold, missed the game and the commercials, we just want to say a big THANK YOU for the Corn Belt lineman that braved the conditions and missed the game for us while waiting for Ameren to get off their duffs. "

to can they: wrote on Feb 4, 2008 11:43 AM:

" Sure us hicks can afford television and believe it or not we even know how to turn it on!! Wow, ain't that somthin. Guess what, a lot of us out here in the cornfields even had power, something you apparently didn't have. Even got to watch the super bowl, did you???????????????? "

Tri-Point Res. wrote on Feb 4, 2008 11:16 AM:

" This weather was crazy last night, severe lightening, loud rumbles and then a snow storm on top of it! Good thing my electricity stayed on, watched the great game, had friends over, good food, and enjoyed our night. It appears Bloomington area looses their electricity alot. I cannot even remember when we lost ours and we have AMeren CIPS here. My last months bill was only $137 for a house full of 6 and we are home all day with tvs, radios, and more running daily and even 3 loads of laundry daily. "

USA ! wrote on Feb 4, 2008 10:23 AM:

" The irony ! Iraq gets a brand new state-of-the-art power plant paid for by the USA and US citizens right here in Americas heartland cant even watch the Super Bowl ! "

I will~ wrote on Feb 4, 2008 10:17 AM:

" Definately be ready to meet my hubby for lunch when the kids are back in school! "

To West Side Hoody wrote on Feb 4, 2008 10:02 AM:

" I doubt if it was the lightening that shook the house....could it have been the THunder?.....Duh "

did not miss wrote on Feb 4, 2008 8:57 AM:

" Didn't miss the game, as we did have a radio, but we DID miss the awful commercials. THANKS AMEREN. You can just comp my bill for this month. "

oly wrote on Feb 4, 2008 8:44 AM:

" i think they are out of school more than in "

Minier wrote on Feb 4, 2008 8:25 AM:

" We lost power at 5 pm last night, after a couple of hours, we called Ameren to see if they had a estimated time when the power would be back on. The nice automated lady said that power would be restored by 10pm. It didn't come back on until 7:10am this morning! Why even give a time if you have no idea? If we had known it was going to take 14 hours to get power back, we would have stayed in a hotel because we have 2 small children. However, we had faith in them since they said 10pm, and instead stayed home and froze our butts off all night. Thanks Amren! "

to great party wrote on Feb 4, 2008 8:20 AM:

" we have dish too...but without power it doesn't do much good. "

the problem wrote on Feb 4, 2008 8:02 AM:

" is that ameren supplies the power to most if not all of central illinois. they provide to their customers which includes cornbelt. we will all be having power problems till ameren bring is equipment up to date with the needs of the area. everything ameren has is in the air on poles so they will always have trouble in central illinois with the weather we have. "

to:Honest question wrote on Feb 4, 2008 7:48 AM:

" No it's not you. They waste money and don't manage their people well doing maintanance. In Indiana they'd use one maybe two people to hook up temporary service. Amerin uses 5 with two line trucks and loafs around for an entire 1/2 day sitting around. By the way the pole was already there. When they do do something it's done half a$$.
"

Lazy Reporting wrote on Feb 4, 2008 7:46 AM:

" Power came back on in Colfax (at least at our house) around 11:30 last night. Not sure why that part of the story hasn't been updated. "

Two years ago wrote on Feb 4, 2008 7:16 AM:

" I bought a deep discharge marine battery and an inverter that will run my tv for 5 hours and 45 minutes, we haven't had a power outage since. "

to angry wrote on Feb 4, 2008 6:47 AM:

" if your dish goes out because of wind your dish is not properly installed. ive installed thousands, and with a cell phone on my hip i cant afford to do a bad job. my guess is you didnt go with a local company and called a 1 800 number. i didnt have one phone call from any of my commercial or private jobs yesterday. "

Dish Guy wrote on Feb 4, 2008 6:42 AM:

" I live out in the boonies and have Direct TV - it's not gone out on me yet... As for generators- not everyone can afford 10K for a system that automatically comes on. I do agree however that the outages have been more frequent lately. "

great party wrote on Feb 4, 2008 5:43 AM:

" We have Direct TV (satellite) and didn't have so much as a flicker. "

How About wrote on Feb 4, 2008 5:26 AM:

" Some praise for those Ameren and Corn Belt Guys that had to go out in that crap and restore the power? Also the snow plow guys that I am sure did not see the game either. Hope they all did it safely and returned home to see the re runs. So often we forget about those guys that bust their butt for us and the whiners. "

Going to the Super Bowl site . . . wrote on Feb 4, 2008 4:31 AM:

" I find this in this sentence: "In one of the biggest upsets in Super Bowl history . . ." Of course a much bigger upset is becoming an Ameren customer. Ameren, if you are reading this, I want you to know that your knowledge in electrical power is a joke. Here is an idea, find a job more suitable to your intelligence. Apparently the electrical power industry is too much for your IQ. Where is Thomas Edison when you need him?! "

High Winds wrote on Feb 4, 2008 4:15 AM:

" Took my Ameren bill right out of my hand when I got the bill the other day. I won't be able to pay my bill since these things happen. I know you will understand Ameren. If not . . . too bad. "

sorry... wrote on Feb 4, 2008 4:05 AM:

" sorry for the outage, you guys missed the best superbowl game ever! It actually felt like a competition! what a game for both teams! But you missed an awesome game! "

doug wrote on Feb 3, 2008 11:43 PM:

" To So? and others who may say “Who cares? Its only a game.” You need to get a life. If your favorite author dies, no one is going to say who cares, he only wrote books. Many people look foreword to a fun activity that only happens once a year and it would stink to have that taken away. Just because you may not enjoy it does not mean that no one else should either.


And by the way, good riddance to Joes. $85 bucks for a tow? Seriously?
"

Hmmmm wrote on Feb 3, 2008 11:03 PM:

" Not only did our lard strike fury upon those who don't give to the corn belt, she struck fury upon the taker of many college student's dreams, Joe's!!! Sorry Joe's, hope you didn't lose any business because of the strike. That's not sarcastic, honest, you guys are so freakin' cool "

To Honest question wrote on Feb 3, 2008 10:58 PM:

" I have been thinking the same thing. "

karma? wrote on Feb 3, 2008 10:42 PM:

" You don't suppose this was karma for DEMANDING their name be taken off the cornbelt charity, do YOU? the lord works in mysterious ways, my child, be afraid, be very afraid. You best be giving. "

So? wrote on Feb 3, 2008 10:29 PM:

" Who cares, it's just a football game. God forbid people spend some time away from the TV. We should be worried about people being without heat, rather than without the Super Bowl. Sad. "

to Don't you know~~ wrote on Feb 3, 2008 10:28 PM:

" The correct phrase is: "He who laughs, lasts." "

to angry wrote on Feb 3, 2008 10:07 PM:

" unfortunately the dish loses a signal and has to search for one every time the wind blows. could take 2 seconds could take two hours, not much more reliable...we have had both dish and mediacom. I agree mediacom sucks but the dish goes out alot more. "

West-side hoodie~ wrote on Feb 3, 2008 9:40 PM:

" The lightening was the worst I've ever experienced. It shook the house, I thought we got nailed a few times. Luckily, we did'nt lose power. Giants won, and it was one heck of a game! "

Opt Out wrote on Feb 3, 2008 9:38 PM:

" I siggest that we all opt out of paying our corn belt bills. What a bunch of doofs. "

Just in time.... wrote on Feb 3, 2008 9:31 PM:

" Ours came back on with 51 seconds left in the game. Oh well. My husband listened to the game in the car!! "

I think wrote on Feb 3, 2008 9:30 PM:

" it would be good to see someone post videos of the reaction in these households when the power went out as they were watching the game. "

reader wrote on Feb 3, 2008 9:27 PM:

" So, what else is new??????????????? "

to: Honest question wrote on Feb 3, 2008 9:26 PM:

" It's just you. "

flickering wrote on Feb 3, 2008 9:19 PM:

" same here. i'm in rural congerville, and the lights were flickering from 6pm until around 8 here..seems to have stopped recently though..lucky me!! "

Think, people wrote on Feb 3, 2008 8:46 PM:

" Gosh... wouldn't it have sucked to live 100 years ago when most homes didn't even HAVE electricity? How could they have seen the Super Bowl then???? Be thankful for what you have people. It's just a stupid game. "

Censored wrote on Feb 3, 2008 8:40 PM:

" If the Pantagraph doesn't delete this again, I would suggest contacting the Illinois Commerce Commission each time your power goes out. This will encourage the power companies to invest in their infrastructure rather than their yearly CEO bonuses. "

can they wrote on Feb 3, 2008 8:36 PM:

" even afford television out in the corn fields? They probably don't care!!! "

Cornbelt Customer wrote on Feb 3, 2008 8:25 PM:

" OK, here we go again! It is an act of nature and beyond the control of utility companies, so they say it's not their fault. We all knew that ComEd and Cilco neglected to maintain the infrastructure. Lucky for them but not for us we are operating under a new companies. A utility pole snapped on Northtown road several days ago. How did that happen? It was not explained. More people are buying electric generators to use in outages. Not all of us can afford them. Eventually the lines are going to go underground to shield them from storms. Get going! "

Don't you know~~ wrote on Feb 3, 2008 8:14 PM:

" he who laughs first, laughs last? "

angry wrote on Feb 3, 2008 8:08 PM:

" I have power but mediacom is not working now. time to drop mediacom cable and go to a dish!!! this bites "

Just west of town wrote on Feb 3, 2008 7:19 PM:

" Our lights have been flickering every five to twelve seconds since about 7:00pm.
The first flickers just before 6:00PM coincided with a huge flash of lightning. "

Honest question wrote on Feb 3, 2008 7:06 PM:

" Is it just me, or is the power supply to Central Illinois getting less reliable? "

not for me wrote on Feb 3, 2008 7:00 PM:

" That is why you get a backup generator only a couple seconds for the automatic transfer to kick over. "

Not good wrote on Feb 3, 2008 6:32 PM:

" guys/gals! "

hahahahahahaha wrote on Feb 3, 2008 6:26 PM:

" HA HA HA HA... SUCKS TO BE THEM.. HA HA HA "
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