Utility Crews Work Around The Clock To Restore Power

This heat wave is causing hundreds of area residents to lose their cool. <br/><br/>AEP/PSO crews have been working 'round the clock to restore power in scattered areas where the system is overloaded.

Tuesday, July 18th 2006, 10:12 am

By: News On 6

This heat wave is causing hundreds of area residents to lose their cool.

AEP/PSO crews have been working 'round the clock to restore power in scattered areas where the system is overloaded.

News on 6 anchor Tami Marler says most of us count on that air conditioner when we get home, but families scattered throughout the area were unpleasantly surprised to find theirs, not working Monday night.

Lyle Payne returned from caring for his customers' lawns to his Broken Arrow home. He was looking forward to resting with a cool drink, in a cool room, but learned he was one of about 500 AEP/PSO customers who'd lost power in the heat of the day.

It got up to 92 degrees inside their house and even though the power came back on at about 7:30 PM, they're still trying to get it cool again. "It was probably until after midnight before it finally cooled off to around 80 degrees, to be halfway comfortable."

AEP/PSOâ€™s Stan Whiteford: â€œit's stressful on equipment out there, just as it is for cars and air conditioners; the heat is tough on electrical equipment as well. And so things like transformers are especially susceptible to heat and being just overloaded."

You can help minimize the power outages this summer, by doing simple things like turning off lights and turning up thermostats a few degrees.

If power goes out at your home, you can call PSO at 586-0400.