Lights Out at Sussex Pick ‘n Save and Surrounding Businesses

Sussex-area residents shopping at a dozen local businesses – including the Main Street – were cut short Thursday morning after a piece of power equipment failed, leaving the stores in the dark.

Power was lost around 11:30 a.m., according to WE Energies representative Brian Manthey, and it's still in the process of being repaired. He says the repairs will take all afternoon.

“It’s still going on right now,” Manthey said. “It looks like in Sussex there are 12 customers out of power. They’re still working on repairs… We’re still doing repairs, and it will most likely take the rest of the afternoon, until about 5 or 5:30 p.m.”

Manthey said he’s unsure what specifically caused the power outage along Main Street, but he knows certain pieces of equipment need to be replaced.

Chief Colin “Corky” Curtis is also unsure what caused the outage, saying there’s a possibility it could have been weather related.

“We did stand by and close off the entrance to the Pick ‘n Save this afternoon until they had the situation denergized,” Curtis said.

Firefighters have since left the business because the situation was under control, but that doesn’t help Sussex Patch reader Ellen Venk. She sent Patch a message on Facebook saying she learned the strip mall didn't have power after going to get a haircut near the grocery store.

The stores will remain closed until power is restored to the buildings later this afternoon.