
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, March 8, 1994                   TAG: 9403080130
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

APCO SEES LIGHT AT END OF TUNNEL

Slowly, but surely, Appalachian Power Co. crews were bringing hundreds of customers back on line Monday, after the second major power outage of the winter season.

But it may be Wednesday before the last customers have power, said Tom Jobes, Apco assistant division manager.

"These are the most difficult locations," he said. "They either have lots of wires down, lots of poles down, or they're way off the road."

As of 4 p.m., Apco knew of 2,466 customers without power in its Roanoke division, having restored about 1,000 since earlier in the day.

But Jobes urged people still without electricity to call, even if they had already notified Apco. Customers whose power has been restored, but the service line has been pulled loose, or who have other problems should also call, he said.

The number in Roanoke is 985-2727; in Rocky Mount, 483-5272.

The problem areas for Apco crews include Bent Mountain; Boones Mill; and Henry, Patrick and Franklin counties. In the New River Valley, 213 customers were without electricity as of 4 p.m. Monday.

About 1,700 workers still were plugging away Monday afternoon to restore electricity - a ratio of 1.7 workers per customer, Jobes noted.

by CNB