Oak Ridge Today

Updated: Power restored Saturday after Friday evening storm

Posted at
By 2 Comments

Utility Workers Dana Drive July 9 2016 1JPG

There were still scattered power outages in Oak Ridge late Saturday morning, July 9, 2016, and crews were working to make repairs. Above, utility crews replace a utility pole and repair lines on Dana Drive after a large tree fell during a severe storm on Friday evening. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 10:25 p.m.

All known power issues in Oak Ridge are repaired, the Oak Ridge Electric Department said Saturday evening.

Crews worked to restore power Saturday in what were reported to be scattered outages. If you are still without power Saturday night, please call the Oak Ridge Electric Department at (865) 425-1803.

City workers had reported scattered outages in Oak Ridge earlier Saturday after a severe storm roared through Oak Ridge Friday evening.

It wasn’t clear how many customers were affected by power outages. The Oak Ridge Police Department had reported a major power outage on Friday evening. [Read more…]

Power still out in some areas; trees, utility lines remain down

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Alhambra Road Power Outage July 8 2016

Utility lines were down after a large part of a tree fell on Alhambra Road in east Oak Ridge on Friday, July 8, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was updated at 12:30 a.m.

Power remained out in parts of Oak Ridge on Friday night after a severe storm blew through Friday evening, and the city said electricity might not be restored in some areas until Saturday.

In a brief statement Friday night, the city said it is still experiencing power outages in at least 17 known areas across town.

“Additional contract crews have been called in to try to get power in major areas up tonight,” the statement said. “Public Works crews are also out clearing downed trees and brush. Areas around Dana and Michigan have been hit especially hard with downed poles and lines in some places. Power in these areas may not be restored until tomorrow.”

The city urged residents to use extreme caution and avoid these areas. [Read more…]

Fire ant hill in transformer causes major power outage on Clifton Circle

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Fire-Ant-Hill-Oak-Ridge-Transformer-March-2016-3

A fire ant hill in a transformer caused a major power outage on Tuesday, March 15, 2016, in the Clifton Circle area of Oak Ridge. (Photo by City of Oak Ridge)

 

A fire ant hill in a transformer caused a major power outage on Tuesday night in the Clifton Circle area, officials said.

If you see an ant hill near any of the city’s transformers, you are asked to please contact the Oak Ridge Electric Department at (865) 425-1803.

More information will be added as it becomes available. [Read more…]

Updated: Power restored in east Oak Ridge

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Note: This story was updated at 12:48 p.m.

There was a power outage in parts of Rivers Run, along Edgemoor Road, and off of Edgemoor Road, Oak Ridge officials said late Wednesday morning.

But power was restored to residents on the east side of the city early Wednesday afternoon, officials said.

“If you are still are without power, please call the Electric Department at (865) 425-1803,” the City of Oak Ridge said. “Thank you for your patience during this outage.”

More information will be added as it becomes available.

Copyright 2015 Oak Ridge Today. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Animal Shelter closed due to power outage

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Due to a power outage, the Oak Ridge Animal Shelter will be closed until further notice, the Oak Ridge Police Department said Wednesday afternoon.

More information will be added as it becomes available.

Copyright 2015 Oak Ridge Today. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

California Ave. temporarily closed, power out after SUV hits utility pole

Posted at
By 2 Comments

California-Avenue-Utility-Pole-Crash-Nov-17-2015

A mother and her son were taken to the hospital with injuries reported as non-life threatening after a small sport utility vehicle hit a utility pole on California Avenue, flipped, and landed on its top Tuesday morning, authorities said.

 

Note: This story was updated at 12:46 a.m.

A mother and her son were taken to the hospital with injuries reported to be non-life threatening after a small sport utility vehicle hit a utility pole on California Avenue, flipped, and landed on its top Tuesday morning, authorities said.

The single-vehicle crash was reported at about 8:30 a.m. Tuesday. The SUV was reportedly driving north on California Avenue when it crashed.

Authorities temporarily closed a short section of California Avenue at West Arrowwood Road as utility workers repaired the pole.

In a text alert at 10:08 a.m. Tuesday, the Oak Ridge Police Department said there was a power outage in east Oak Ridge from California Avenue east, and it could affect traffic signals. The signal at Melton Lake Drive and Oak Ridge Turnpike was reported to be out.

At about 11 a.m., the Oak Ridge Electric Department said there was damage to a substation as well.

“As a result, power is expected to be off east of Florida Avenue on both sides of the Turnpike, including residents and businesses along East Emory Valley Road, for the next few hours in order to make the necessary repairs,” the Electric Department said.

The ORED reported at about 12:30 p.m. that power had been restored on the east end of Oak Ridge.

More information will be added as it becomes available.

Copyright 2015 Oak Ridge Today. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

ORPD: Power outage in west Oak Ridge may affect traffic lights

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

There was a power outage on the west end of Oak Ridge on Monday morning, and it could affect traffic lights, the Oak Ridge Police Department said.

In a text alert, the ORPD said utility workers are aware of the outage.

More information will be added as it becomes available.

Copyright 2015 Oak Ridge Today. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Saturday storms knock down trees, damage property

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

144 North Slope Lane

A house on North Slope Lane near Hidden Hills Drive received the most damage, authorities said. Hidden Hills Drive is off Hidden Valley Road, which runs between State Route 61 and Laurel Road northeast of Oak Ridge.

 

The storms that blew through on Saturday brought high winds and heavy rain to parts of East Tennessee. There were some trees and power lines down in Anderson County.

“The Claxton area, especially around West Wolf Valley Road, and near Laurel Road between Clinton and Oak Ridge were the hardest hit,” Anderson County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Mark Lucas said Saturday evening.

He said there was minor damage reported from trees or limbs on houses. One house on North Slope Lane near Hidden Valley Road received the most damage, Lucas said.

There were no reported injuries.

Most trees and power lines across roads were cleared by Saturday evening, Lucas said. [Read more…]

Large tree falls on power line, causes outage for about 7,150

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

A large tree fell on a power line in west Oak Ridge early Saturday morning, causing an outage that affected about 7,150 customers, officials said.

The tree fell on a subtransmission line that runs over the top of a ridge south of Oak Ridge Turnpike on the west side of town at about 12:15 a.m. Saturday, July 11.

The tree shorted out the feeds to two substations, which caused a power outage roughly from Tulane Avenue westward, the Oak ridge Electric Department said. [Read more…]

TVA sets all-time power demand record; stores sell out of heaters

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Downtown Hardware on Nov. 2013

The Downtown Hardware crew is pictured above in November 2013. Co-owners Ann Clary Bratton and Roger Clary are pictured second from right and at left. (File photo)

 

The Tennessee Valley Authority set an all-time record for power demand in February on Thursday morning, and local stores have sold out of heaters.

TVA said the record set at 7 a.m. Thursday was 32,109 megawatts, with an average temperature of 7 degrees Fahrenheit.

Downtown Hardware in Oak Ridge reported that they were down to two electric heaters.

“We’re completely sold out of kerosene and propane,” said Ann Bratton, who co-owns the store with her brother Roger Clary. “That seems to be what people are asking for.” [Read more…]

Substation problem knocks out power

Posted at
By 1 Comment

A substation problem knocked out power to a significant number of customers on Sunday evening, the Oak Ridge Electric Department reported on its Twitter feed.

However, city workers later reported that temporary repairs had been made and power restored.

Still, there was a higher risk than normal of more power outages, the city said.

Residents and businesses reported outages on Wade Lane, West Hutchison Circle, West Outer Drive, Pennsylvania Avenue, and at Cinemark Tinseltown movie theater and the businesses around it.