Correction
This story incorrectly reported the number of PSO customers in Tulsa who lost electrical service during a 1987 ice storm. About 114,000 customers lost service in the storm.

Mayor expedites electrical repair process

Utility crews are chipping away at the number of power outages in the Tulsa metro area, with 24,400 dark homes and businesses remaining Monday night.

Meanwhile, Mayor Kathy Taylor announced a new public assistance program designed to help get people reconnected to the electrical system when it is rebuilt.

All AEP-PSO customers whose service can be restored are expected to have electricity back by noon Wednesday.

American Electric Power-Public Service Company of Oklahoma President Stuart Solomon said he realizes that some of those people will have not had power for 10 days.

"I completely understand their frustration and the difficulty and burden this has placed on our customers," he said. "That's why we're working just as hard as we possibly can."

Following the ice storm that hit Dec. 9, 246,000 outages were reported in the Tulsa area.

AEP-PSO still has on the job 2,400 linemen and 2,200 tree cutters, many of whom were summoned from out of state.

None will go home until they are done, Solomon said.

"All of the crews are still here and fully engaged," he said.

Oklahoma Gas & Electric is still reporting 58,134 outages, with the vast majority of them concentrated in the Oklahoma City metro area.

Tulsa's remaining outages are concentrated in the city's core, which had the most severe tree damage, said Preston Kissman, AEP-PSO vice president of distribution.

"People who have tree limbs in their backyards that have fallen on the service cables -- that's going to be our biggest challenge," he said.

To speed the work by utility crews, people are encouraged to remove dogs from their yards and not to ask crew members questions.

Tulsa's outage number spiked Monday afternoon because of blown transformers, but it began to fall again.

A total of eight Red Cross shelters remained open in the area Monday night, with one in Tulsa at Crosstown Church of Christ, 3400 E. Admiral Place.

Operation Power Up!:<GE2> As many as 10,000 of the utility customers still without power are expected to have meter damage that will require repair by a professional electrician before service can be restored.

Scheduling that is the responsibility of the homeowner or business owner.

But the city has launched Operation Power Up!, a volunteer effort to help identify those damaged meters.

The city also has waived the inspection requirement to get people reconnected faster.

More than 4,300 homes still without power were surveyed Sunday, with even more being surveyed Monday. The efforts will continue Tuesday and Wednesday.

Also, off-duty firefighters and public volunteers have been clearing tree debris so that utility crews can reach ar eas where they need to work.

"People are so grateful to see us out there," said District Fire Chief Eddie Bell, who is helping coordinate the effort.

Monetary help: On Monday, Taylor announced an emergency public assistance program, beginning at 8 a.m. Tuesday, to allow the cost of repairs to homes with damage to weatherheads -- which connect power lines to buildings -- to be covered by Operation Power Up!

''I knew that scheduling repairs would take time, and I was also concerned about the cost to families during this holiday season,'' Taylor said.

The city will seek partial reimbursement for this emergency public assistance from the federal and state governments.

Participating licensed electricians will be reimbursed $500 per home, including materials, upon receipt of a completed work order and invoice to the city. Payments won't be made to homeowners.

Electricians who would like to participate should report to the southwest corner of the QuikTrip Center at Expo Square between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. to sign up.

''PSO is continuing to repair the main power grids, and we are making great progress,'' said Solomon. ''The mayor shared our concern that damages to individual homes may prevent power from being restored after the grid is fully repaired.''

A hot line has been established to document affected homes.

All homeowners who need weatherhead or meter box repair must call Operation Power Up! to take advantage of the program. The hot line -- (866) 789-8898 -- will be open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The program is voluntary, and homeowners may choose to continue with electricians with whom they have already contracted with no reimbursement option. Any inquiries regarding personal insurance coverage should be directed to the homeowner's insurance provider.

''We applaud the mayor and the city of Tulsa for their innovative work,'' said Gov. Brad Henry. ''The state of Oklahoma is doing everything we can to assist in this effort.''

Taylor said the goal remains to have all Tulsa families returned to power before Christmas.

''Tulsans can't be made to wait weeks before their power can be turned on,'' she said.

Federal response: U.S. Rep. John Sullivan, R-Okla., led the Oklahoma congressional delegation in sending a letter to President Bush, asking for immediate approval of Gov. Henry's request for a major disaster declaration for seven of Oklahoma's counties.

The request, which may be expanded later, includes Tulsa, Wagoner, Cleveland, Lincoln, Mayes, Oklahoma and Pottawatomie counties.

A major disaster declaration will allow additional types of federal public assistance.

Brian Barber 581-8322
brian.barber@tulsaworld.com

Hot line

Any homeowner who needs weatherhead or meter box repair should call Operation Power Up! to take advantage of a new public assistance program that will pay for $500 in electrical repairs.The hot line — (866) 789-8898 — is open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Past outages remembered

1987: Up to 30,000 PSO customers lost power in an ice storm.

Response time — All power restored in Tulsa in nine days.

2004: A “gustnado” with 80 mph winds left more than 70,000 AEP-PSO customers without power.

Response time — All power restored in Tulsa in four days.

January 2007: An ice storm left more than 122,000 people in eastern Oklahoma — customers of a variety of utilities — out of power.

Response time — All power restored statewide in 20 days.

From Tulsa World reports