Southwestern Electric operations and engineering personnel are prepared for what may be a difficult weekend for Midwest utility crews. 

The National Weather Service issued a wind advisory effective from 1 p.m. today through 1 p.m. Saturday, April 1. The advisory calls for winds of 20 to 30 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.

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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