Officials with Corn Belt Energy in Bloomington informed Regional Radio News on Friday afternoon, that crews have restored power to all members in the Corn Belt Energy service territory after a winter storm earlier this week producing high winds, ice, sleet and flooding left thousands of Corn Belt Energy members without power.

The storm caused extensive damage within Corn Belt Energy’s service territory including several substations, over 100 broken poles, many broken cross arms, downed lines, and numerous trees in the lines. A substantial amount of the damage was located in flooded areas and private right-of-ways making restoration times prolonged, according to Corn Belt's President and Chief Executive Officer Don Taylor.

Taylor added that they thanked their members for their patience, and appreciated the assistance of township commissioners and law enforcement for providing information and traffic management.

Taylor also thanked the Association of Illinois Electric Cooperatives for activating the Illinois Electric Cooperative Emergency Work Plan and helping Corn Belt Energy in bringing in crews from sister
cooperatives to assist in the restoration process. The emergency work plan is designed to expeditiously provide personnel, equipment and materials to cooperatives in Illinois that needs assistance during
an emergency.

Co-op's that provided crews to Corn Belt Energy included Adams Electric Cooperative, Clay Electric Co-operative, Clinton County Electric Cooperative, Coles-Moultrie Electric Cooperative, Eastern Illini
Electric Cooperative, EnerStar Electric Cooperative, Jo-Carroll Energy, and Menard Electric Cooperative, the City of Geneseo and the City of Princeton.

Members should contact Corn Belt at 1-800-879-0339 to report power outages, partial power, and downed lines or poles.