Power Restoration in Hannibal Comes With a Shocking Price

(Hannibal, Mo)—Hannibal Board of Public Works officials say the cost of restoring power after last month’s storms will easily top half a million dollars. Currently the price tag is over $400,000, but another $200,000 in bills is expected from outside utility crews.  Eight communities sent mutual aid after power was knocked out to 8500 of BPW’s 9000 customers.

Electrical crews logged 10,000 man hours in the 7 days after the storm, restringing over 15,000 feet of wire and resetting 70 poles, all with only a few minor injuries reported.

BPW Communications Coordinator Cindy Livesay says her office normally averages 2000 service-related phone calls per month.  In the 7-day period just after the storm, her office fielded 8600 service calls.