A fast-moving storm packing high winds that passed through Bartholomew County on Thursday afternoon left thousands of electric utility customers without power.
According to Duke Energy, as of about 5:30 p.m., nearly 7,000 customers were without power in the Columbus area. That includes about 5,000 in Columbus, about 670 south of State Road 46 in Columbus along State Road 11 south to near Waynesville; more than 800 in the western part of the county; and more than 300 in and around Elizabethtown.
According to Duke, about 142,000 customers were without power statewide in Indiana on Thursday afternoon.
Additionally, 1,839 Bartholomew County REMC customers were without power at about 5 p.m. Thursday, according to Bartholomew County Emergency Management Director Shannan Cooke.
REMC reported 543 customers without power in Geneva Township; 267 in Clifty Township; 236 in Jackson Township; 227 in Clay Township; 215 in Rockcreek Township; 127 in Wayne Township; 101 in Ohio Township and 76 in Harrison Township. Other areas had much smaller numbers of outages.
Duke said customers could report outages could by texting OUT to 57801, report online or call 800-343-3525.
REMC said outages could be reported by calling (800) 927-5672 or through the SmartHub app. Customers should have the service address and account number ready for quick and accurate reporting.
