Thousands of Cleveland households and businesses started Tuesday in the dark, literally, as outages spread across the city and left many people without power during the morning commute. Utility maps and reports put the number of affected Cleveland Public Power customers in the multiple thousands, and crews were sent out to track down and repair the problem. By midafternoon, city officials still had not offered a firm timeline for full restoration.
Maps show roughly 4,751 customers out
A widely used outage tracker pegged the number of Cleveland Public Power customers without electricity at 4,751 on Tuesday, pointing to feeder-level outages across several neighborhoods. PowerOutage.us, which compiles data from utility maps, showed Cuyahoga County among the hardest-hit spots. Cleveland Public Power's outage page lays out how to use its GIS outage map so residents can search by address and see where crews have been dispatched.
Utility responses
As reported by FOX 8, FirstEnergy, which serves parts of Greater Cleveland, said it was not seeing widespread outages on its system. Cleveland Public Power had not announced a cause or a firm restoration time, and FOX 8 noted that the city utility's outage map showed crews working across Cleveland.
Where this fits into a bigger problem
The latest blackout hits as Cleveland wrestles with long-standing reliability issues on its municipal grid and a proposed plan to rebuild aging equipment and speed up repairs. Coverage of the city's proposed overhaul of its faltering public power grid surfaced in April, highlighting recurring complaints about street lights and feeders from downtown to neighborhood blocks. News 5 has chronicled residents' growing frustration over dark stretches and what many say are sluggish fixes.
How to report outages and stay safe
If your power is out, you can check Cleveland Public Power's outage map and report interruptions by calling the utility's outage line at 216-664-3156 or Customer Care at 216-664-4600. The outage page also includes safety tips for dealing with downed wires. If there is immediate danger, call 911. While crews work to restore service, you can keep an eye on the wider regional impact through PowerOutage.us.
