Ameren Illinois Activates Emergency Operations Center as Precautionary Measure

For Immediate Release

COLLINSVILLE, Ill. (JANUARY 25, 2021) – Ameren Illinois activated its Emergency Operations Center (EOC) on Monday morning in preparation for a winter storm which is forecast to dump snow and ice across central Illinois. The EOC is staffed around-the-clock to coordinate service restoration, crew mobilization, and communication.

David Wakeman, senior vice president of Operations and Technical Services for Ameren Illinois, said while snow poses driving challenges for crews during a winter storm, ice and wind are the more frequent causes of winter power outages.

“Ice storms are particularly challenging from a power restoration perspective,” Wakeman said. “Significant ice build-up combined with below freezing temperatures and strong winds can wreak havoc on our power lines, transformers and other equipment. Ice accretion of more than a quarter inch is our main concern because that’s when we see trees limb snap and fall into our equipment.”

Wakeman said activation of the EOC enables the company to place personnel, supplies, and storm restoration equipment in the areas where damage is expected. The company follows a well-defined storm management plan to assess the damage and restore power to customers as quickly and safely as possible.

Ameren Illinois customers without power should call 800-755-5000 to report an outage, log onto the website at AmerenIllinois.com, or report their outage using the mobile phone app.Information on the restoration status of individual outages will be provided directly to customers who have reported their outage to Ameren Illinois.
Ameren Illinois urges its customers to sign up to receive alerts up on the status of restoration. Sign up at Ameren.com/alerts.
Real-time outage information is available on the outage map at AmerenIllinois.com/outagemap.
Pre-packaged photos, videos and fact sheets on winter storm restoration, EOC activation, and customer safety are available for media at AmerenIllinois.com/media.
Customers and media can receive timely updates on outage restoration by following the Ameren Illinois news feed on Facebook or at twitter.com/AmerenIllinois.