Southwestern Electric operations and engineering personnel are addressing outages on what's proven to be a busy Saturday for Illinois utility crews. 

Earlier in the week, the National Weather Service issued a wind advisory effective from last night through this morning. The advisory calls for steady winds of 15 to 25 mph with gusts reaching 50 mph. Strong winds may bring down branches and trees, and snap powerlines and utility poles. Please be alert for sagging or fallen lines and treat every powerline as if it’s energized.

Members who see downed or sagging power lines should stay clear of the area and contact Southwestern Electric Cooperative at (800) 637-8667. In addition, people clearing debris should look for sagging or fallen wires before they begin working.