Power outages continue

Residents across the state are waking up Wednesday morning to power outages. Intermountain Rural Electric Association or I.R.E.A. is dealing with many outages and the company's Web site says the following: "Due ...

[Chris R]

IREA (Intermountain Rural Electric Association) has shown EXTREMELY POOR communication throughout this ordeal. We have been without power for 24 hours and their telephone service line doesn't mention any outages at all. Then we hear that they've posted a message on their website. TELL ME FOLKS, HOW ARE WE SUPPOSED TO SEE THAT MESSAGE WITHOUT THE ELECTRICITY TO BOOT OUR COMPUTERS?? M O R O N S !!! Luckily I was able to get to work today and get online here. IREA truly sucks the big one when it comes to communication adn overall customer service. BEWARE!

[Di Friend]

I am surprised that Elizabeth itself is not part of the power outages for IREA - There has been no power in Elizabeth since 11 a.m. 4/24 and we still do not have power - People were stranded because of vehicles getting stuck due to the streets not being plowed - The main streets were clear this morning, but people had to get their cars out. Now we have mud to deal with.

[NIKKI]

THAT NUMBER THAT YOU HAVE POSTED FOR I.R.E.A NUMBER THAT IS POSTED IS NOT WORKING AND WE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY THEY WOULD GIVE A NUMBER THAT IS COMPLEATY GOING TO BUSSY, WE ARE REDIESENTS OF ELBERT COUNTY FOR OVER 20YR AND HAVE BEEN WITH OUT POWER SINCE 11:30 AM ON TUESDAY AND WE ARE GETTING NO ANSWERS ON WHEN WE CALL IREA, AND THERE IS NOT MUCH NEWS ABOUT THIS TO LET THE PUBLIC KNOW., WE STILL COUNT IN THE RUAL COMMUNITIES!!!

[NIKKI]

THAT NUMBER THAT YOU HAVE POSTED FOR I.R.E.A NUMBER THAT IS POSTED IS NOT WORKING AND WE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY THEY WOULD GIVE A NUMBER THAT IS COMPLEATY GOING TO BUSSY, WE ARE REDIESENTS OF ELBERT COUNTY FOR OVER 20YR AND HAVE BEEN WITH OUT POWER SINCE 11:30 AM ON TUESDAY AND WE ARE GETTING NO ANSWERS ON WHEN WE CALL IREA, AND THERE IS NOT MUCH NEWS ABOUT THIS TO LET THE PUBLIC KNOW., WE STILL COUNT IN THE RUAL COMMUNITIES!!!

[CLB]

I am unable to get through to IREA to report a power outage, since 6:30p.m. last evening. It is getting very annoying to constantly get a busy signal on the number in this article as well as their 800 phone number. There website doesn't allow for entry on this type of problem - another frustration.

[Geoff]

I live in central Elbert county near Agate and we have Mountain View Electric Association (MVEA). We lost power yesterday around 3pm for 4 hours, intermittent overnight, and then another 3 hours this morning. They said they had 4 generators out and over 200 poles down. We're back up for now though. I think given the rural locale and they have to sometimes wait for county plows (which can take a while) MVEA generally does a great job. I've heard nothing but problems about IREA. I agree about news not being reported in the rural areas--seems like we're not part of their demographic. We had an ultralight glider crash (safely) across the road on Sunday. Sent it to the Newstips. Do they care?? NO! Limon needs to get their own stations so someone covers things outside "the 7 county metro Denver area."

[lynda--Arvada]

One of my co-workers lives in Elizabeth also. When she called in this morning I looked at the website and gave her the numbers. She couldn't get through on either one. I FAXED THEM!!!! We'll see if it helps.

[Josh]

I am now thankful I spent a small fortune to have a automatic standby Guardian natural gas generator installed on my house. Been without utility power for more then 12 hours, however the generator has the whole house powered up. Yeah, IREA is terrible, that was one of the deciding factors to spend the money for a whole house generator.

[Jim]

I too have been without power for 24hrs. There is a high voltage line down in the middle of our street and the circle I live on is blocked. I could't get through to IREA to even report the outage! Always busy. Do they take their phones off the hook so they don't have to communicate!?? I had to call the fire department to have them secure the area and make sure the lines weren't hot. This is not their job!!!! IREA should at least have a well staffed hot line so we pions can find out what is going on. Funny thing though, the businesses in Aspen Park have had power on and off through the night. I guess money talks.

[Christine]

I live in Western County Ranch in Elizabeth and have been without electricity over 24 hours.

[Christine]

Hi Jeff.... We have not had electricity for over 24 hours. NO heat, NO Water....... I called IREA and they called around 730 saying they restored the problem. Not the case......

[Christine]

CLB- I finally got through to IREA and I have been on hold for over 10 minutes..... It would be nice if they could have a recording about the outage.

[Bruce]

My house in Evergreen has been without power for over 26 hours. I do have solar backup, but that was good for only 6 hours, then I moved in my portable generator. It burns about a gallon an hour and that can be expensive not to mention a lousy nights sleep due to its noise. Tonight it goes off and I hope my batteries have charged enough to keep the water well pump, frig and freezer going while its off overnight. I have turned off all un-necessary lights and other loads.

[Josh]

Driving thru Castle Rock there are some areas that have power, some that still don't. I have a friend who was w/o power in Founders Village, but another friend who has power next door in Castlewood Ranch. I am still running off the generator (uses modest amounts of natural gas) and have not yet tried again to call IREA. If anyone lives close to Castle Rock, you can always go visit them at their offices on 85 or stop by one of their satellite offices.

[Christine]

I finally talked to a human at IREA. I was told that they did not know when power would be restored. However, made it clear to tell me that it was not a 100 trees, there were thousands..... So, it might be a good idea for me to stay in town. Also, my friend that lives by 21 in Elizabeth's power was restored after 26 hours down. So there is hope... My husband also went out and bought a generator.

[Amber]

We have been without power since tuesday about 11:00am. It has been frustrating since you can not talk to a human when you call IREA all you can do is call in your phone number and get in line. When I contacted IREA's office in CO. Springs the answer was we are working on it with no ETA. Ugh now I am hearing it can be up to three additional days.

[Julie]

We lost power yesterday around 2pm, and probably tried to contact IREA nearly 20 times. What is the most frustrating is that you cannot get any information from them at all. It would be one thing to at least say "Hey, we have no idea when power will be back up, stop calling." At least then it would seem like they were paying attention. Not to mention last night some of our neighbors had power back up, and yet others of us did not. Very poorly handled by IREA and the local news affiliates.

[Mary]

Stop your sniffling, already....try going without power for two weeks or longer...then I might feel bad for you.

[Mary]

All I can say...awww you poor crybabies...get real.

[Yeah-right]

Wah wah wah, no power to feed our million dolor homes, this is such a let down, I think I'll sue. SHUT UP YUPPIES! MY POWER WAS OFF FOR 2 DAYS! Deal with it!