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We need more time (and less wind) to fix power outages. That was the message Sunday night and again early Monday morning from multiple power companies. As of 6 a.m., 168 homes in Buckingham, Cumberland and Prince Edward counties remain in the dark. Originally, the number was nearly 3,000, so on the plus side, progress is happening. 

Work crews from Dominion, Southside Electric Cooperative (SEC) and Central Virginia Electric Cooperative (CVEC) are still going at it, trying to repair damage left behind from the multiple storms. Officials from all three companies are leery about giving any projections on when outages will be completely fixed, especially with more rain and wind on the way. 

High winds and heavy rain throughout the night didn’t make things easy. That’s made it harder for crews to get to the downed lines. That’s especially true in parts of Buckingham County, as the downed lines are in rural areas, not exactly easy to reach in the best of times. 

As of 10 p.m., there were 2,970 homes in Buckingham, Cumberland and Prince Edward County without power. That number dropped significantly around midnight, as folks in and around Farmville saw the lights go back on. 

“Multiple crews are currently assessing damage and restoration efforts are underway to have power back to our members as quickly and safely as possible,” SEC officials said in a statement. 

Realistically, officials from all three companies say some of the homes may be in the dark until later this morning, as they hope to get everything cleaned up before yet another round of storms is expected mid-Monday afternoon. 

And as odd as it may sound, there have been incidents in the past with residents trying to move power lines. All three groups ask people to steer clear of downed power lines, even if they’re blocking the road. 

Call in power outages

One thing officials have asked is for people to report outages as fast as possible. If that happens to you later today, the quicker they know, the quicker a team can come out and help. For SEC customers, you have two options, either report by texting #out to 866-878-5514 or call that same number to use the automated service. For CVEC customers, you can call 800-367-2832, use the MyCVEC app on your cell phone or report it through mycvec.com.