Over 100K Wisconsin We Energies Customers Lose Power After Storm

WISCONSIN — Over 100,000 We Energies customers in Wisconsin were without service into Friday morning after heavy snow through the night, according to the company's outage tracker.

Behind the significant outages was heavy snow buildup on trees, We Energies said. Hundreds of crews from across the state are working to restore power, the company said.

In a statement to social media, We Energies said customers should report outages through their app or by calling 800-662-4797. The company reminded people to stay at least 25 feet away from downed power lines and to report them to We Energies or local law enforcement. People should assume any downed lines are energized.

By 8:30 a.m., the outage tracker showed 107,370 customers out of service. Mainly southeastern Wisconsin was affected, with the majority of outages reported in Milwaukee County, according to the outage map. By 9:45 a.m., the tracker showed over 90,000 people without power.

The outages come after forecasters expected between 5-8 inches of snow in the region with higher totals closer to Lake Michigan. Large branches were downed across Milwaukee's east side on Friday morning, at times blocking sidewalks or roadways. A winter storm warning remains in effect for the county until 10 a.m.

Here are some tips from We Energies for people without power:

• Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible.
• Unplug or turn off appliances to avoid overloading when power is restored.
• Stay out of flooded basements or rooms.
• Go to safe shelter if your home is extremely cold or hot.
• Use flashlights, not candles.
• Get power restoration updates on the We Energies app or online.
• Use generators properly.
• Leave a light on to know when power is restored.
• Check with municipality for shelters or other resources during extended outages.
• Use key for electronic entry doors if keypad is not battery operated.
• Use food safety tips for frozen and refrigerated items.
• Check on neighbors and relatives, especially seniors or anyone with medical conditions.

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