After a brutal windstorm caused more than 160 separate power outages across the central peninsula on Easter Sunday, Homer Electric Association line crews have had their hands full trying to conduct repairs due to downed trees and wind-blown debris. As of Tuesday morning, 82 HEA members were still without power.
In response to the unprecedented situation, Homer Electric Association Chief Operations Officer Rob Montgomery took to social media to publicly address the situation.
“Unfortunately, we sometimes experience weather events or other circumstances that are outside of our control, such as the high windstorms we had this past weekend,” Montgomery said during the one-minute video posted to Facebook. “We recognize that many of you have been without power now for almost 2 full days, and for that, we sincerely apologize. But please know our crews have been working around the clock since Saturday morning to restore power, and they will continue to do so until we get the lights back on for our very last member.”
The windstorm-related power outages on Sunday at one point affected nearly 4,200 HEA members. Line crews have been working diligently since early Sunday morning to repair one outage after another, methodically bringing members back online.
Montgomery also asked HEA members for patience and understanding of the inherent danger facing line crews. “We also ask that you keep in mind the work that our crews are doing is dangerous. We do not want to compromise their safety by asking them to move too quickly.”
Crews are currently working along K-Beach Road and in Sterling and Soldotna, focusing on primary circuits. Once these circuits are repaired, the focus will shift to secondary circuits with fewer members and then to the individual service lines.
In the fall of 2023, another windstorm resulted in similar mass power outages when nearly 10,000 HEA members lost power. In each case, the utility company has brought in contract line crews to help restore power to all as soon as possible.