'I feel sorry for them': We Energies responds to emergency outages in brutal cold
In South Milwaukee, We Energies crews braved freezing temperatures to respond to an emergency call. A blown transformer knocked out power and heat to 15 homes near Hemlock Court and Carroll Avenue. It would have been a tolerable situation in typical temperatures, but Friday’s wind chills hovered around -30. “How’s the house?” 12 News Hannah Hilyard asked John Hochevar, who lost power. “Nice and warm so far, as long as we don’t keep the doors open too long, we’re fine,” Hochevar said.We Energies spokesperson Brendan Conway explained that while the exact cause of the transformer issue was unclear, cold weather could have been a factor. “Sometimes when our crews get on the scene, it’s obvious, but sometimes it’s just, something triggered it, but what we are first focused on is getting there, determining if we can, but then fixing it,” Conway said.The freezing temperatures do alter We Energies’ operation strategy. Their crews are only outside responding to emergencies, and they have more workers going to each call.”We have doubled crews so that they can switch in and out, get the work done as quickly and safely as possible. They can get warm if need be,” Conway said.Hochevar expressed sympathy for the crews working in the cold.”I feel sorry for them. They’re doing a great job, but yeah, it’s got to be tough. Just standing here, we’re cold already, and they’ve got to be using their hands and stuff, and their face has got to be in the cold,” he said.The crews in South Milwaukee took about three hours to replace the transformer and restore power.”This required some special equipment, required a lot of people, a lot of effort, but they did get it done. And you know what, when they’re done here, they’re probably going to head to another job if there is one,” Conway said.We Energies advises residents who lose power to keep doors shut as much as possible and to open shades when the sun is shining to help maintain warmth.Top HeadlinesWrong-way crash injures 3 on I-94 near downtown MilwaukeeOlympic snowboarder turned FBI fugitive Ryan Wedding arrested after manhuntResidents of Milwaukee apartment building evacuated due to lack of heat, waterWATCH Wisconsin Humane Society urges pet owners to limit animal’s time outdoors in frigid temps
In South Milwaukee, We Energies crews braved freezing temperatures to respond to an emergency call.
A blown transformer knocked out power and heat to 15 homes near Hemlock Court and Carroll Avenue.
It would have been a tolerable situation in typical temperatures, but Friday’s wind chills hovered around -30.
“How’s the house?” 12 News Hannah Hilyard asked John Hochevar, who lost power.
“Nice and warm so far, as long as we don’t keep the doors open too long, we’re fine,” Hochevar said.
We Energies spokesperson Brendan Conway explained that while the exact cause of the transformer issue was unclear, cold weather could have been a factor.
“Sometimes when our crews get on the scene, it’s obvious, but sometimes it’s just, something triggered it, but what we are first focused on is getting there, determining if we can, but then fixing it,” Conway said.
The freezing temperatures do alter We Energies’ operation strategy. Their crews are only outside responding to emergencies, and they have more workers going to each call.
“We have doubled crews so that they can switch in and out, get the work done as quickly and safely as possible. They can get warm if need be,” Conway said.
Hochevar expressed sympathy for the crews working in the cold.
“I feel sorry for them. They’re doing a great job, but yeah, it’s got to be tough. Just standing here, we’re cold already, and they’ve got to be using their hands and stuff, and their face has got to be in the cold,” he said.
The crews in South Milwaukee took about three hours to replace the transformer and restore power.
“This required some special equipment, required a lot of people, a lot of effort, but they did get it done. And you know what, when they’re done here, they’re probably going to head to another job if there is one,” Conway said.
We Energies advises residents who lose power to keep doors shut as much as possible and to open shades when the sun is shining to help maintain warmth.
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WATCH Wisconsin Humane Society urges pet owners to limit animal’s time outdoors in frigid temps