05/11/2009 UPDATE: Carbondale efforts expand (VIDEO)
"We appreciate the patience and support of all of our customers, many of whom are also dealing with damage to their own homes and businesses," said Ron Pate, AIU vice president of Regional Operations. "We want to reassure everyone that we will be on the job in Southern Illinois until the lights are on for every customer."
Up-to-date information on the electrical service restoration effort as well as safety advice and weather reports are available at www.IllinoisOutage.com. Also, the Web site features photos and videos of the storm damage and service restoration effort.
To facilitate the restoration effort, the Ameren Illinois Utilities are now using an automated calling system to contact customers in impacted areas. The system allows customers to indicate if their service has been restored or is still out. This information is then put into the AIU outage reporting system so service can be safely restored. In addition, customers can call AIU to report outages or downed wires: 1-888-789-2477 (AmerenCIPS), 1-800-755-7000 (AmerenIP) and 1-888-672-5252 (AmerenCILCO).
Customers who do not have access to telephones may visit the just opened temporary AIU Customer Service Center located in the Carbondale City Hall at 200 S. Illinois Ave. In addition, AIU has a temporary Customer Service Center at the southwest entrance to Marion Mall close to the Sears.
