February 26, 2013

Snow and high winds are contributing to significant power outages being reported in Northeast and Southeast Kansas due to the winter storm that entered the state Monday.

Westar Energy reports power outages in the following counties affecting approximately 6,200 customers at Noon: Allen, Anderson, Bourbon, Butler, Coffey, Cowley, Crawford, Douglas, Elk, Greenwood, Harvey, Jefferson, Johnson, Labette, Leavenworth, Linn, Lyon, Montgomery, Osage, Reno, Saline, Sedgwick, Shawnee, Sumner, Wilson, Woodson, and Wyandotte.

Kansas City Power and Light reports approximately 45,000 meters without power in the Kansas City Metro area.

Sumner-Cowley Rural Electric Cooperative reports five substations off line. Operations workers are out counting number of downed poles. Sedgwick Rural Electric Cooperative is reporting 1,000 meters are off-line, including agricultural and irrigation hook ups.

Victory Rural Electric Cooperative is experiencing outages due to Westar transmission line going off line. The estimated time to bring back on line is six hours.

Cherokee County has approximately 4,000-5,000 meters without power.

Kansans are reminded to avoid downed power lines and report them to the local power company or their county emergency manager.