Electric companies on standby for power outages

Nearly 100 Columbia Water and Light and Boone Electric Cooperative workers are on call through the weekend to respond to possible power outages as an ice storm makes its way through mid-Missouri.

As of 4 p.m. Friday, both electric companies, along with Three Rivers Electric Cooperative, weren’t reporting any outages.

Ameren Missouri was reporting more than 2,300 customers without power about an hour south of St. Louis at that same time.

Columbia Water and Light and Boone Electric Cooperative want to remind residents not to call 911 to report a power outage.

Columbia Water and Light customers are first asked to check its online outage map to see if the outage has been reported or call the 24-hour emergency number: 573-875-2555.

Connie Kacprowicz, a spokesperson for Columbia Water and Light, said any information customers can provide about the outage with help crews restore the power faster. She added they will not respond to outages reported on social media.

Boone Electric customers are asked to call 573-449-4181 to report an outage. Residents will need to have their phone number or account number ready to report the outage. Outages can also be viewed online.

Three Rivers Electric said it will also have workers on standby to restore possible power outages over the weekend. Customers are asked to call 1-800-892-2251 to report an outage. Outages can also be viewed online.

Electric line workers will usually respond first to the outage that affects the largest number of people.