Kentucky Power continues efforts to restore power to approximately 53,250 customers affected by this past weekend’s devastating snow storm. At the peak of outage cases, approximately 80,000 customers lost power as heavy, wet snow accumulated over the company’s 20-county service area and caused extensive damage to utility poles, cross arm structures and electrical wire. With the assistance of approximately 1,200 restoration personnel, the company is working as safely and quickly as possible to restore service to customers. Since the height of storm outages, approximately one-third of all customers affected have been restored to service.
 
Restoration Notes:
Downed power lines continue to be a problem and company officials caution Eastern Kentucky residents to never approach downed power lines or wires of any type. No matter how harmless a downed wire may appear it should be considered energized and dangerous. Report all downed power lines to Kentucky Power at (800) 572-1113 or notify local emergency or law enforcement officials immediately. Never approach or touch anything that comes in contact with a downed power line.
 
Customers should be aware that Kentucky Power cannot connect power to any home or business where there is damage to the electrical service entrance. The service entrance is the area located 1) at the meter, 2) between the meter and the home’s electrical panel, or 3) the location where Kentucky Power’s cable connects to the home/business owner’s cable. Customers need to have a qualified electrician repair this damage and a state inspection performed before power can be restored to the home or business. Kentucky Power’s Customer Solution Center representatives can provide customers more information about this requirement by calling (800) 572-1113.
 
Outage Numbers and Restoration Estimates:
As of 3 p.m., today, the following outage numbers and restoration information was estimated by the company.
 
Ashland Service Area: Boyd, Carter, Greenup, Lawrence Counties
3,063 customers out of service
Restoration Estimate: 95% restored, Midnight Thursday 12/24
 
Hazard Service Area: Breathitt, Knott, Leslie, Perry Counties
15,589 customers out of service
Restoration Estimate: 95% restored, Sunday, 12/27
 
Paintsville Service Area: Johnson, Magoffin, Morgan Counties
1,003 customers out of service
Restoration Estimate: 95% restored, Midnight, Tuesday, 12/22 *
 
Pikeville Service Area: Floyd, Pike, Knott Counties
21,047 customers out of service
Restoration Estimate: 95% restored, Saturday, 12/26
 
South Williamson Service Area: Martin, Pike Counties
7,000 customers out of service
Restoration Estimate: 95% restored, Saturday, 12/26
 
Whitesburg Service Area: Letcher County
5,551 customers out of service
Restoration Estimate: 95% restored, Saturday, 12/26
 
Total Customers: 53,253
 
* Updated Estimate
Customers and media representatives can track information about this storm and Kentucky Power’s efforts to restore power by going to www.kentuckypower.comand clicking on the December 18 Snow Storm - Kentucky Powerbox. The site provides additional storm related information including a map of outages cases by county. It will be updated regularly throughout the storm.

Kentucky Power is an operating unit of American Electric Power and provides electricity to approximately 175,000 customers in all or parts of 20 Eastern Kentucky counties.

American Electric Power is one of the largest electric utilities in the United States, delivering electricity to more than 5 million customers in 11 states. AEP ranks among the nation’s largest generators of electricity, owning nearly 38,000 megawatts of generating capacity in the U.S. AEP also owns the nation’s largest electricity transmission system, a nearly 39,000-mile network that includes more 765 kilovolt extra-high voltage transmission lines than all other U.S. transmission systems combined. AEP’s transmission system directly or indirectly serves about 10 percent of the electricity demand in the Eastern Interconnection, the interconnected transmission system that covers 38 eastern and central U.S. states and eastern Canada, and approximately 11 percent of the electricity demand in ERCOT, the transmission system that covers much of Texas. AEP’s utility units operate as AEP Ohio, AEP Texas, Appalachian Power (in Virginia and West Virginia), AEP Appalachian Power (in Tennessee), Indiana Michigan Power, Kentucky Power, Public Service Company of Oklahoma, and Southwestern Electric Power Company (in Arkansas, Louisiana and east Texas). AEP’s headquarters are in Columbus, Ohio.

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