Southwestern Electric operations and engineering personnel are prepared for what may become a busy week for Midwest utility crews. 

As of noon Jan. 3, the National Weather Service forecast cites the potential for heavy mixed precipitation in Southwestern Illinois this weekend, with snow and sleet accumulations between 4 and 11 inches, four tenths of an inch of ice, and wind Saturday night into Sunday.

These conditions make power outages likely.

Wind, snow and ice may bring down branches and trees, and snap power lines and utility poles. Please be alert for sagging or fallen lines and treat every power line as if it’s energized. Members who see downed or low-hanging 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.

A few reminders:

• If you lose power, report your outage by calling 800-637-8667 or by using the SWEC IL app. Those are the only ways to ensure your outage is logged.
• You can receive alerts when your outage has been restored via the SWEC IL app. You can learn more about the app here.
• You'll find a YouTube tutorial on setting up alerts on the app here.
• Learn more about storm safety and forming a backup power plan here.

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