Midamerican Energy Company recently issued the following announcement.
MidAmerican Energy Company today dispatched additional crews to the Quad Cities area. Ice has accumulated overnight on power lines and trees, and winds are forecast to increase later on Tuesday.
Though MidAmerican Energy customers experienced some isolated outages early Tuesday, weather conditions did not substantially impact the system. However, gusty winds may cause more significant impacts to already ice-coated power lines and tree limbs.
“When ice accumulates on power lines and the wind increases, that can cause a phenomenon we call galloping. That’s what happens when wind pushes on the lines and lifts them up, in essence causing them to gallop or jump up and down,” Jim Dougherty, vice president of electric delivery, said. “We’re also concerned about ice-covered limbs that can fall onto our lines and equipment.”
The company has dispatched additional line crews and tree trimming crews to the Quad Cities as a precaution. MidAmerican Energy dispatched the additional company and contractor crews from Iowa City, Waterloo and Des Moines, and has put additional crews on standby.
Never touch a downed line
Assume that any downed utility line is energized and dangerous, and do not touch a line. If you see a downed power line, call MidAmerican Energy immediately at 800-799-4443.
Notify MidAmerican Energy if a power outage occurs in your area
If you are a MidAmerican Energy customer and your power goes out, notify the company as soon as possible to help crews pinpoint impacted areas and restore service more quickly. Customers can report the outage online or call 800-799-4443.
Never assume someone else has reported a power outage. If you lose power during a storm, report the outage. This information helps the company pinpoint the source of an outage and can speed the restoration process.
Outage information available 24/7 online, from smartphones, tablets and desktops
My Account, where customers sign up for outage alerts, is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In addition to signing up for outage notifications, customers can view their energy use, pay bills and view payment history, among other options.
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