POINT PLEASANT, W.Va. — In the early hours of Wednesday, a sudden and disruptive equipment malfunction at a substation owned by Appalachian Power Company plunged thousands into darkness in Mason County. The incident occurred just after 1 a.m., severing power for a staggering 7,560 customers—a staggering figure, representing nearly half of the utility’s clientele in the area.
Karen Wissing, a representative for Appalachian Power, informed WMOV Radio that swift action was taken. Through strategic switches and adjustments, they managed to restore service to several thousand homes, yet a significant number—3,800 customers—remained without power by 11:30 a.m.
To expedite restoration, a mobile transformer is to be deployed, aimed at reviving the electricity for many while repairs are actively pursued at the beleaguered substation. “It’s a specialized piece of equipment designed for significant outages,” Wissing explained, emphasizing its crucial role in providing temporary relief. “This allows us to bring back a portion of the larger outage clusters.”
This mobile transformer is anticipated to re-establish service for 20% of the remaining customers, with hopes pinned on complete restoration by around 7 p.m. that evening. Meanwhile, residents braced themselves for cold temperatures, which hovered at 33 degrees in Point Pleasant with a predicted high of 43. The night was expected to bring a chilling dip into the mid-20s.
In light of the circumstances, Point Pleasant High School was prepared to open its doors as a warming center, beginning at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, a beacon of respite amid the power outages.
