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The following is a news release from Ameren regarding severe weather and power outages in the Peoria area this morning:

Ameren Illinois Utilities Mobilize Resources to

Restore Power for about 43,000 Customers in Central Illinois

Residents Urged to Stay Away from Downed Electrical Lines

Peoria, Ill. (9:30 a.m. June 18, 2009) – The Ameren Illinois Utilities (AmerenCIPS, AmerenCILCO, AmerenIP) have activated their Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in response to early morning storms that left as many as about 43,000 Central Illinois customers without lights.

AIU personnel are now assessing the damage to both high voltage lines and the electrical distribution system that brings power to homes and businesses. At 9:30 a.m., approximately 36,400 customers were without service.

The Emergency Operations Center, which is directing the service restoration work, has deployed three Storm Trailers in Peoria County. The Storm Trailers are mobile storerooms, stocked with the material field crews need to get the lights back on. The trailers can be moved to central staging sites to provide essential materials in those areas with the greatest damage.

“Our first and foremost concern is the safety of our customers and coworkers,” said Bill Prebil, Ameren Illinois Utilities (AIU) vice president of Regional Operations.

“As a result of 80-mile-per-hour and greater winds, we have broken poles and downed electrical lines in the areas hit by today’s storms. It is imperative that people stay away from downed power lines and to always call us or ‘911’ if you see downed lines. Stay away from brush, shrubs and fallen trees that may hide downed lines.”

“When severe storms cause power outages, our first priority is to correct potentially life-threatening situations, such as downed power lines and to restore service to hospitals that are without power. We then implement power restoration plans focused on restoring power for the greatest number of customers in the shortest length of time,” Prebil said.

To report downed power lines or other problems, customers should call the Ameren Illinois Utilities: 1-888-672-5252 (AmerenCILCO), 1-888-789-2477 (AmerenCIPS) and 1-800-755-7000 (AmerenIP).

 Customers planning to use a portable generator must first open the main breaker or remove the main fuses before connecting the generator to the electrical systems. Failure to do this could seriously injure utility crews working on outside power lines, and/or it could cause damage to a neighbor's property or the customer's own equipment. Customers should never use a portable generator indoors, including in a home, garage, basement, shed or partially-enclosed area – even with ventilation because of the threat of deadly carbon monoxide poisoning.

For updated information on the electrical service restoration effort, please visit IllinoisOutage.com.