WAYNE – As winds hit over 40 mph throughout Thursday and overnight, several power outages were reported due to ice building on the line with accumulation to about .25-.50” of ice.
Towards the end of Thursday, the Northeast Nebraska Public Power Department lost their 69 kV transmission line feeding the South Sioux City substation for the Jackson area and rural customers.
Tracy Golden is the general manager at NPPD. Golden said the power department then lost a section of their line around 5:30 p.m. that goes from Emerson to Newcastle which left about 2,000 customers without power.
“That was in the towns of Obert, Concord, Dixon, Allen, Newcastle and Maskell,” said Golden. “And all of those rural areas around there.”
One of the 69 kV lines slapped the other one and burned one of them down taking out the transmission line.
“It took awhile for the guys to find where that had happened because it was dark and they were getting stuck in the snow,” Golden added. “They finally located it and got it switched out about maybe 10:30 – 11 p.m. (Thursday).”
Around 30 customers were still without power until midnight with some more outages reported Friday between 2-3 a.m.
The Northeast Nebraska Public Power Department had about 12 crews running Thursday night while a couple more crews were on call during the day.
Golden mentioned what to do when the power goes out.
“First thing they need to do is call us; well check the breakers,” Golden mentioned. “If the electricity goes out make sure they check the breakers. It could be just in one of their breakers has tripped. If all the breakers are on, look around, look outside see if you can see your neighbors. If the neighbors lights are on just make note of that.”
Visit northeastpow.com or call 402-375-1360 for more information. For the 24-hours, 365 days line call 800-750-9277.
According to the National Weather Service, the wind will be backing off but still could be gusting around 26 mph Friday night. Sunny skies and cold temperatures are in the Saturday/Sunday forecast before a light chance of New Year’s Eve snow Monday.