Verdigris Valley Customers Seeing The Light Again

Wednesday, December 19th 2007, 10:30 pm

By: News On 6

Verdigris Valley Electric Co-op says it hopes to restore power to nearly all of its customers by Friday. At the height of the storm, 12,000 of their ratepayers lost service. As of Wednesday night, that number was down to 2,000. The News On 6â€™s Chris Wright reports the news was welcomed by VVEC customers who were beginning to wonder if the lights were ever going to come back on.

As the lights of the more fortunate illuminated the sunset behind him, Greg James continued to clean up debris in his yard Wednesday evening. It's been a part of his nightly routine since his home lost power on December 9th.

"We're waiting still. I'm hoping. I'm hoping they get them out here, and get it on,â€ said Greg James of Rogers County.

Greg worries he will be one of the last to get his lights back because of a utility pole feeding his home that crashed down in his back yard. Meanwhile, life on the other side of the street is starting to get back to normal. Like many of those without power, the James Family says it's tough to look across the street and see that their neighborsâ€™ lights are on.

"It's just like come on. Why can't they get our side of the street back on, too?â€ wonders Gregâ€™s son, Dallas James.

But, Verdigris Valley hopes to provide an early present for its customers. The Co-Op says it is confident power can be restored to nearly all of them by Friday. Until that happens, Greg James and his family will continue to run their generator. The family says it will wait patiently for power, and the tree is ready for when their Christmas spirit returns.

Verdigris Valley says a major break came on Wednesday when the Grand River Dam Authority energized one of its high voltage transmission lines. That line runs from Collinsville to Prue, and serves substations used by Verdigris Valley.

Verdigris Valley officials say getting that line back removed a major roadblock to restoring power.

Watch the video: Co-Op Hopes To Have Everyone Online Friday