05/31/2022
Final update, 1:30 p.m. June 2: Whew! We are cleaning up a handful of odds and ends across the system, but we’re out of crisis mode. Thank you to everyone involved in our restoration efforts, from local restaurants to neighboring co-ops and contractors. As our VP/COO Andy Olson mentioned, “I am blown away (pardon the pun) by the energy, enthusiasm, patience, and dedication shown by everyone who contributed.” We couldn’t have said it better ourselves, but would like to add one more thing: ECE members are the absolute best! 🤩
Previous, 8:15 a.m. June 2: Crews are looking at 58 separate outages impacting about 80 members. They will be working hard today, so give them room to work if you see them out and about. Moving over and slowing down keeps everyone safe! Please don't hesitate to continue calling in downed lines to 1-800-254-7944.
Previous, 5:30 p.m. June 1: It’s been a grueling, mosquito-filled day. We’re sitting at around 200 members without power. We hate to share this, but some of these outages will continue overnight and into tomorrow. Our crews were so hopeful about getting everything wrapped up today but there’s just too much damage. Again, if you need a medical device to safely sleep, we suggest making alternate arrangements or finding a backup power source. We can’t thank our members enough for the kind messages and positive attitudes!
Previous, 8 a.m. June 1: Crews are hitting the ground running this morning, refreshed and ready to tackle 285 separate outages impacting around 550 members. There's still a lot of work to be done but we've got good weather and supportive members. We can do this! Please continue to call in downed lines at 1-800-254-7944.
Previous, 6:30 p.m. May 31: After nearly 24 hours, our employees will soon need some sleep to continue working safely. Crews are trying to safely complete as much restoration as possible before mandatory rest at 10 p.m. We do expect some members to be without power overnight. If you need a medical device to sleep, please make alternate arrangements or find a backup power source. We currently have around 2,000 members without power, largely in Pine County. We wish we could pinpoint a restoration time, but we do not have estimated time frames for any areas. Your growing frustration has not gone unnoticed, but neither has your kindness and patience. We hope our members understand just how much we appreciate your support as we work to turn the lights back on without compromising safety! And as we keep repeating, please treat every downed power line as if it is live.
Previous, 1 p.m. May 31: We currently have 300 outages impacting around 3,000 members. A big thank you to neighboring crews for assisting with restoration! For the many still without power, we understand the irritation and your worry about spoiled food. However, we absolutely can’t sacrifice safety for the sake of speed. No one wants to issue a press release due to a workplace accident. Please try to understand that we are doing our absolute best while keeping safety (yours AND ours) at the forefront of everything we do.
Previous, 10 a.m. May 31: We have contractors, as well as crews from a neighboring co-op, coming to help with the intense cleanup efforts. Our outage map is showing around 3,500 members without power, which will probably fluctuate as members discover more damage. Your kind words are keeping our spirits high and reminding us that our small communities always support one another in times of need. ❤️ Continue to stay away from downed power lines because they can be energized even if they aren't sparking. Live wires can also be tangled in fallen trees.
Previous, 5:30 a.m. May 31: It’s been a long night for our crews and contractors. The area we cover is dense with trees and the storm’s winds were brutal. We’re down to around 3,000 without power. We know everyone wants an estimated restoration time, and it’s frustrating not having electricity. It’s frustrating to us, too, because there is just so much damage to work through that has created unsafe conditions. Please remember that employees have been up all night working to restore your power and they deserve to get home safely. Again, this will likely take a day or two before everyone is restored; you might need to find alternate sleeping arrangements or use a backup generator. Continue to avoid downed lines at all costs!
Previous, 10:15 p.m. May 30: The storm that plowed through really did a number on our equipment. We have no estimation for power restoration because it could be a multi-day event. 😞 We have all available crews out working and a number of employees working behind the scenes as well. Please be patient and know that we are doing our best to communicate with you and repair the damage. As always, we remind you to stay away from downed lines! Don’t attempt to move a tree with a line touching it, and don’t drive over a downed power line either. We want everyone to stay safe throughout the cleanup process.
Previous, 8:20 p.m. May 30: Over 10,000 members are without power. If you can’t reach us via SmartHub or 1-800-254-7944, please remember that your meter has likely already automatically reported your outage. It’s all hands on deck tonight. Also, if you need a medical device to sleep, consider making alternate sleeping arrangements.
Original, 7:45 p.m. May 30: Thanks to a line of nasty storms, ECE currently has 3,000+ members without power throughout our service area. This number will likely climb as the storm system moves across the state. Please be patient, check on your neighbors, and never approach downed power lines. Watch our outage map for more details: https://www.ecemn.com/woViewer/mapviewer.html?config=Outage%20Web%20Map
