Most Cape, Jackson homes could have power by end of Wednesday

With a boost from 1,000 extra workers battling ice and fallen trees to restore power, the number of Cape Girardeau residents left in the dark has fallen by about 50 percent. More could see a return of power tomorrow as temperatures are expected to surge to a high of around 50 degrees.

As of 3:20 p.m. today, 4,798 AmerenUE customers were still without power in the 63701 and 63703 Cape Girardeau ZIP codes. In the Jackson area 457 AmerenUE customers were still without power out of 1,191 customers. Smaller numbers were without power in Scott County towns like Chaffee and Scott City, and in other towns like Dexter, Mo., and Bernie, Mo.

The Cape Girardeau numbers have fallen significantly from the 9,625 without power at 5 p.m. Tuesday and the 6,400 in the dark as of 6:10 a.m. Wednesday.

Most people will get power back today, AmerenUE spokesman Tim Fox said, but the rest should have power by Thursday.

The situation can be nervewracking, Fox said, as icy tree limbs continue to break lines that have already been repaired.

"Some people may have their power on only to have it go off again." Fox said. "It's frustrating for us, too."

In some cases, Fox said AmerenUE workers actually see branches take down lines they've just repaired.

Fox said the lower population density and smaller concentrated area of this storm may be the reason utility crews are making more progress in restoring power than in past ice storms like the one in St. Louis last year that left hundreds of thousands of homes without power.

Chuck Reed, electric operations manager with Jackson's public utilities, said about 75 percent of the utility's 6,500 customers had powered restored by 10 a.m. today. He expected that rate to reach 90 percent by the end of the day.

Citizens Electric Cooperative reported Wednesday morning there were over 1,000 people without power in the Millersville, Fruitland and Trail of Tears State Park area. But by 3 p.m., the number had increased to 1,500 as ice started to melt, either dropping on lines or causing tree branches to bounce upward.

Barb Casper, manager of member services for Citizens Electric, said the company expected to have its main feeders back in service by the end of the night, but warned that people located away from main feeders could "continue to be without power beyond tomorrow."

In Illinois, 205 AmerenCIPS customers in Anna where without power as of 3:20 p.m., down from 965 at 9:40 a.m. Wednesday. Numbers of outages were also down significantly in Ware and Tamms, but remained the same or had increased in Alto Pass, East Cape Girardeau, Thebes and Mounds.

For a map of outages in AmerenUE's service area go to the company's Web site.

A map of outages in AmerenCIPS' coverage area in Illinois is also available.

More updates will be posted later at semissourian.com.