MOUNT VERNON — Summer thunderstorms continued to wreak havoc in Knox County and around central Ohio on Wednesday afternoon. Electric customers of American Electric Power and The Energy Cooperative both lost service due to the storm for a few hours.
The AEP substation on Pittsburgh Avenue experienced a transmission issue which affected around 1,500 Mount Vernon area customers who lost service around 2 p.m., which spiked to 2,400 at about 4 p.m., according to Carmen Prati-Miller, news media representative. All customers were reported to have their service restored by 5:30.
The Energy Cooperative substations in Reform and Martinsburg both had a circuit lose power which affected 1,266 members, with the Martinsburg station affecting members in southern Knox County. This occurred around 5 p.m. with power remaining off for about two hours, said Bruce Sumner, vice president/chief operating officer. Sumner stated that strong winds caused trees and poles to be downed as well as the power to be interrupted.