Massive Power Outage Followed Warning

Panel Said Last Year That Reduced Tree-Trimming Could Spell Trouble

(CBS/AP)  Ameren Corp. executives have said two massive power outages in the last four months could not have been prevented. But an Illinois commission warned last year that cuts in tree-trimming might lead to just such problems.

The separate power outages left more than 500,000 homes and businesses without power in Missouri and Illinois. The first blackout was caused by a windstorm in July, the most recent by an ice storm Nov. 30. St. Louis-based Ameren said in both cases the storms were so severe the company could have done nothing to keep power on.

The St. Louis-Post Dispatch reports that a state regulator in Illinois warned Ameren of just such a possibility last year.

An engineer with the Illinois Commerce Commission said the company's tree-trimming program did not meet state standards. The commission's annual report warned that the shortfall could cause extended power outages after a storm.

It took Ameren days to restore power in both outages. Thousands of customers in Illinois were without power and heat for more than a week this month as temperatures dropped well below freezing during the nights. Just 400 customers remained without power Sunday.

Top officials in both Missouri and Illinois have sharply criticized Ameren's response to the most recent blackout. Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt asked the state's Public Service Commission to hold public hearings and said he wants Ameren to provide a clear plan for preventing a recurrence.

Illinois Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn also pressed utility regulators to investigate, calling the power disruptions a "systemic failure" despite the efforts of thousands of repair workers from 14 states.

The Illinois Commerce Commission voiced doubts about Ameren's power grid more than a year before November's ice storm.

Jim Spencer, a senior electrical engineer for the Illinois commission, inspected Ameren's power lines in 2004 and 2005. The company operates power in that state under its subsidiary, AmerenIP.

Spencer wrote in a letter dated Aug. 17, 2005 that the company's tree trimming efforts were inadequate.

"Based on the evidence in these two areas of AmerenIP's service territory, I have no reason to believe that Ameren has applied the resources necessary to adequately recover from its deficient tree trimming program noted during my inspections of a year ago," he wrote.

Ameren spokeswoman Susan Gallagher said Friday in an e-mail response to the Post-Dispatch's questions that she disagreed with Spencer's findings.

Gallagher said Ameren adheres to the four-year tree trimming cycle mandated by the ICC.

The Commission announced it would investigate Ameren's preparation and response to November's ice storm.

In Missouri, the state Public Service Commission is also looking into the recent outage. After analyzing the July blackout, the PSC recommended that Ameren boost its tree trimming program.

In 2004, the PSC reported that Ameren's tree-trimming program in Missouri was inadequate because of budget cuts.

Because of the findings, Ameren increased its budget to $32.2 million from $23.5 million and is on schedule to meet state requirements by December 2008, according to the PSC.

[cathaleen]

The power companies have to start upgrading their systems. They make a fortune. They should be responsible for trimming trees near their powerlines. After hurricane Wilma people saw how shoddy FPL lines were. They weren't upgraded or cared for in years. They shouldn't be allowed to get away with this. But I guess they have a good lobby in DC.

[rharrin1]

They did not trim the trees back and that caused a lot of the power outage. Now people from 14 states are there to help restore power.

Which is cheaper trimming trees while customers are buying power or cutting up trees and repairing power lines while customers are not buying power???

Do the math

They were most likely looking for a raise in rates.

[mjv2944]

Ameren is trying to get a 40-50% increase pushed through, inspite of the fact that they are very profitable at their current rate. I don't think that my employer or any employer is going to be handing out any 40-50% raises. But seeing as the Illinois Commerce Comm. is dominated by people from the industry they will probably get it and to hell with the general public. I can see an increase might be needed but not that kind of increase. Large increases, if implemented should be done on a 5 to 8 year schedule. I wonder if these outages are being handled in a way that Ameren can go to the commission and say "see we told you we needed an increase". This ploy would not surprise me considering the attitude of big business towards the American people.