OSCEOLA COUNTY — More than 7,900 Great Lakes Energy members are without power Monday as line crews repair electrical infrastructure damaged by a winter storm. The outages currently affect 12 of the cooperative’s 26 counties.
The damage was caused by a mix of heavy snow, ice, sleet and high winds. Heavy snowfall across the northern Lower Peninsula has slowed travel and complicated efforts to restore service.
Osceola County is currently the hardest-hit area in the service territory with more than 5,500 reported outages. Kalkaska County has the second-highest total with more than 880 members currently without electricity. Outages in several areas were caused by damage to major transmission lines.All available line crews and contractors were pre-staged over the weekend in anticipation of the storm.
These teams have been responding to damage reports as quickly as weather conditions allow. Shaun Lamp, president and CEO of Great Lakes Energy, said the cooperative is focusing on the well-being of its workers as they manage the restoration.
“Our teams are prioritizing safety first and foremost as they brave these harsh and unpredictable conditions,” Lamp said.
Great Lakes Energy is advising members to stay at least 20 feet away from any downed power lines for safety. Members can report power outages through the Great Lakes Energy mobile app or by calling 888-485-2537.
Crews will continue restoration work as weather conditions allow. Members can find the latest updates on the cooperative’s website at gtlakes.com/power-outages.