By WBAY news staff
Published: Jun. 16, 2022 at 9:24 PM CDT|Updated: Jun. 17, 2022 at 10:14 PM CDT
GREEN BAY, Wis. (WBAY) - Wisconsin Public Service (WPS) said they completed storm restoration efforts in the Green Bay area.
We Energies crews are expected to restore power to all Fox Valley customers Sunday.
“Hundreds of utility workers from across Wisconsin and the Midwest have worked around the clock non-stop after tornados and high winds knocked out power to more than 175,000 WPS and We Energies customers,” WEC Energy Group Senior Communications Specialist Alison Trouy wrote in a media release.
The WPS power outages map still shows clusters without power in the Beecher area, possibly related to the storms.
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) is helping FoodShare members who lost power in the storms.
FoodShare members have 10 days to request replacement benefits. Proof of lost food and/or a power outage is required.
“The damage caused by the severe storms across Wisconsin this week has hit many families who were already struggling,” DHS Secretary-designee Karen Timberlake said in an online statement. “We want our FoodShare members to know that replacement benefits are available to help restock food that was lost.”
WPS power outages map: https://www.wisconsinpublicservice.com/outagesummary/view/outagegrid
Check WPS restoration status: https://www.wisconsinpublicservice.com/OutageManagement/Status/CurrentOutage
We Energies power outages map: https://www.we-energies.com/outagemapext/#
Check We Energies restoration status: https://www.we-energies.com/OutageManagement/Status/CurrentOutage
REPORT 6/18
Wisconsin Public Service says they are on track to restore service to all customers by Saturday night.
We Energies believes power will be restored for most customers in the Fox Valley by Saturday night. The company says crews are working through the weekend to get power back in the most heavily-damaged areas.
“WPS and We Energies restored service to most customers on Thursday, but extensive damage in Green Bay and the Fox Valley created an extended restoration time, as crews had to replace snapped power poles and rebuild electric circuits,” WEC Energy Group Senior Communications Specialist Matt Cullen wrote in a statement.
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) is helping FoodShare members who lost power in the storms.
FoodShare members have 10 days to request replacement benefits. Proof of lost food and/or a power outage is required.
“The damage caused by the severe storms across Wisconsin this week has hit many families who were already struggling,” DHS Secretary-designee Karen Timberlake said in an online statement. “We want our FoodShare members to know that replacement benefits are available to help restock food that was lost.”
WPS power outages map: https://www.wisconsinpublicservice.com/outagesummary/view/outagegrid
Check WPS restoration status: https://www.wisconsinpublicservice.com/OutageManagement/Status/CurrentOutage
We Energies power outages map: https://www.we-energies.com/outagemapext/#
Check We Energies restoration status: https://www.we-energies.com/OutageManagement/Status/CurrentOutage
REPORT 6/17:
Wisconsin Public Service says 95 percent of customers will have power restored by the end of the night Friday, with electricity restored to the remaining 5% by Saturday night. It will take a little longer for We Energies customers in the Fox Valley, where the goal is to have power back for everyone Sunday afternoon.
WEC Energy Group says power has been restored to more than 170,000 WPS and We Energies customers since the devastating storm Wednesday evening. Gusty winds on Thursday caused tens of thousands more outages.
At 10 P.M. Friday, WPS still had to restore power to 6,500 customers, including about 1,700 homes and businesses in Green Bay and half or more of the WPS customers in Amberg, Athelstane, Beecher, Dunbar, and Pembine.
We Energies had 18,830 without power, including 12,541 in Outagamie County, 2,451 in Waupaca County, and 1,676 in Shawano County. These included the majority of customers in Freedom and Center and nearly all customers in Seymour, Oneida and Lessor.
“The most extensive damage is being reported in the Fox Valley, where many circuits will need to be rebuilt. Due to the extreme damage, we expect to restore power to all We Energies customers by Sunday afternoon,” reads a statement from Senior Communications Specialist Matt Cullen.
Article continues below with links to outage maps and how to check restoration status
— We Energies (@we_energies) June 17, 2022We’re working around the clock to rebuild parts of our electric system destroyed during this week’s strong storms.
We sincerely appreciate the patience our customers continue to show us. Check the status of your outage here: https://t.co/AQHSAyLLSe pic.twitter.com/CmYY1wpjNX
WPS power outages map: https://www.wisconsinpublicservice.com/outagesummary/view/outagegrid
Check WPS restoration status: https://www.wisconsinpublicservice.com/OutageManagement/Status/CurrentOutage
We Energies power outages map: https://www.we-energies.com/outagemapext/#
Check We Energies restoration status: https://www.we-energies.com/OutageManagement/Status/CurrentOutage
RELATED ARTICLE: What’s safe to eat after a power outage?
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Power has been restored to about 115,000 utility customers since a storm Wednesday night left severe damage in its wake. Little over 50,000 homes and businesses in the WPS and We Energies service areas were still without electricity at midnight Friday morning, after a full day without power.
WEC Energy Group, which owns We Energies and WPS, says 90% of WPS customers should have power restored by the end of the day Friday and all customers by Saturday evening. It will take until Sunday afternoon to get the power back on for all We Energies customers because of the extent of damage and the utility is needing to rebuild circuits.
06.16.22 - 9PM Update: WPS estimated time of restoration for Brown County, 2pm Saturday. WE Energies estimated time of restoration (which would be small parts of Brown/Outagamie), 4pm Sunday.
— Brown County EM (@BCEMGMT) June 17, 2022
At the peak of the outages, more than 160,000 homes and businesses were affected. The utilities brought in crews from other Midwestern states to work on restoring power around the clock, with another 900 workers joining the effort Friday.
In the midnight update, We Energies had 28,231 customers without power in its service area from Michigan’s Upper Peninsula to Milwaukee -- restoring power to about 5,000 more customers since 9 P.M.
Outagamie County remains the greatest concern with 16,419 customers impacted, followed by Waupaca County with 3,804 customers, Shawano County with 2,006 customers, and Winnebago County with 1,309 customers still without power. The outages affect a majority of We Energies customers in Freedom, Seymour, Oneida, Center, Dale, and Wolf River -- including all or nearly all of the customers in Seymour and Oneida.
WPS reported 22,213 customers literally in the dark at midnight, from Waupaca to Minocqua, Niagara to Newton. WPS was aware of 164 separate outage points in Green Bay alone, affecting a total 7,451 homes and businesses. Nearby, more than 2,600 customers in Hobart and 1,572 in Hobart, 867 in Ashwaubenon, and 664 in Suamico are also impacted.
People are reminded to stay at least 25 feet away from downed power lines. A line that isn’t sparking or smoking could still be energized.
WPS and We Energies encourage downloading their respective mobile app so you can report outages and get status updates. Here are links for outages and where you can check your restoration status by street address, phone number or utility account number:
WPS power outages map: https://www.wisconsinpublicservice.com/outagesummary/view/outagegrid
Check WPS restoration status: https://www.wisconsinpublicservice.com/OutageManagement/Status/CurrentOutage
We Energies power outages map: https://www.we-energies.com/outagemapext/#
Check We Energies restoration status: https://www.we-energies.com/OutageManagement/Status/CurrentOutage
RELATED ARTICLE: What’s safe to eat after a power outage?
RELATED ARTICLE: Consumer First Alert: Beware of storm repair scams
RELATED CATEGORY: Severe Weather Safety Information
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