Skip to main content

Lake Country Power advising members to seek safety and warmth during outage

The conditions following the late Thursday night snowstorm is making it difficult for linemen, bucket trucks and heavy equipment to access poles, wires and downed trees. As a result, Lake Country Power is advising any members still without power by 8:00 p.m. tonight to seek alternatives to stay warm.
Line crews have restored power to more than 4,000 members since 11:00 p.m. Thursday night. Crews worked all night and day on Friday in an effort to restore electric service. While crews are making progress, they will need a mandatory rest period from 8:00 p.m. this evening until 6:00 a.m. Saturday morning.
Most outages are located in the Mountain Iron service area, including Lake Vermilion, Ely, Orr and Crane Lake. Other outages also affected members in the Grand Rapids and Kettle River service areas as well. As snow and ice melts from the lines, more outages are anticipated throughout the co-op’s service area.
LCP has engaged all available field personnel and the service of Lakes State Construction. At the height of the snowstorm, more than 5,300 members were without electric service.
Co-op members may call the cooperative at 1-800-421-9959, press 1, to report outages, and can also report outages through the SmartHub portal at www.lakecountrypower.coop. Members are encouraged to use SmartHub to report outages on mobile devices. If members need a SmartHub account, they can sign-up at www.lakecountrypower.coop.
The co-op’s outage map can be viewed at www.lakecountrypower.coop or http://mi.lcp.coop:82 to track outage status.
Lake Country Power, www.lakecountrypower.coop, is a Touchstone Energy® cooperative serving parts of eight counties in northeastern Minnesota. The rural electric cooperative provides services to nearly 43,000 members and has offices located in Grand Rapids, Kettle River and Mountain Iron.
###
Winter Outage Tips:
· Stay inside – dress in warm, layered clothing, and cover up with extra blankets.
· Close off unneeded rooms.
· When using an alternative heat source, follow operating instructions, use fire safeguards and be sure to properly ventilate (keep a multipurpose, dry-chemical fire extinguisher nearby and know how to use it).
· Stuff towels or rags underneath doors to keep in the heat.
· Cover windows at night.
· Maintain a regular diet. Food provides the body with energy for creating its own energy.
· Drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated.
· Infants or persons over 65 are more susceptible to the cold, check on elderly or disabled friends or neighbors. You may want to find an alternative location with friends or relatives if you cannot keep your home warm.
· Be cautious when using alternative heating, lighting and cooking sources that may increase the risk of a fire or carbon monoxide poisoning.

Sign up for News Alerts

Subscribe to news updates