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SRP crews work tirelessly to restore power after storms

Posted at 7:26 AM, Jul 11, 2018
and last updated 2018-07-11 15:08:31-04

As the first batch of monsoon weather rolled through the Valley, utility crews worked hard to get customers back online after thousands lost power during storms. 

Salt River Project specifically said 66,000 customers were impacted by monsoon storms and lost 46 wooden power poles to storm damage. 

SRP also says four of its big transmission towers located in the desert on the far western outskirts of metro Phoenix need to be replaced after being severely damaged by high winds. 

They mobilized 41 four-man crews working rotating shifts 24/7 since Monday to repair damaged poles, lines and power equipment. SRP spokeswoman Patty Garcia-Likens says the towers were damaged Sunday night by winds that apparently reached at least 90 mph. 

Likens-Garcia says crews have begun work to erect temporary replacement structures to put the affected lines back in service within about a week and that permanent replacements will be put up in the fall or early winter.

Garcia-Likens says the lines are operated and maintain by SRP and connect with the Palo Nuclear Generation Station but that redundancies in SRP's system meant that the damage didn't affect SRP customers or Palo Verde.

SRP says as we continue through the monsoon, you could see future storms knock out power lines and poles. If you come across damaged or downed power lines, do not approach them and call 911 or your utility company. 

PHOTOS: See damage across the Valley from Monday monsoon storm

If you see power poles or lines that look unsafe or unfit to handle a storm and are concerned they could become a risk, you can call your local utility to come check them ahead of the storm. 

Power has been restored to the majority of customers impacted by the most recent monsoon storm. For the latest outage information for both SRP and Arizona Public Service, you can go online. 

SRP customers, click here

APS customers, click here