OAK RIDGE, Tenn. (WOKI / WVLT) – Residents and businesses in part of Oak Ridge should prepare for a planned overnight power outage this week as city crews perform critical maintenance on the electric system.
According to City of Oak Ridge officials, the outage is scheduled for Thursday from 1 a.m. until 4 a.m. and will affect customers located on the north side of Oak Ridge Turnpike between New York Avenue and Melton Lake Drive.
City leaders said the temporary outage is necessary to allow crews to complete upgrades to electrical infrastructure designed to improve service reliability.
“The work involves bringing a new high-voltage switch into service and taking the existing switch, which is close to failing, offline,” the city said. “Completing this work proactively will help reduce the risk of equipment failure and support the long-term reliability of electric service.”
While officials estimate power could be interrupted for as long as three hours, restoration may occur sooner if crews finish the work ahead of schedule.
The city also noted that Methodist Medical Center is not expected to be affected by the planned outage.
Officials are encouraging customers in the affected area to prepare for the temporary interruption by charging electronic devices and making any necessary arrangements before the outage begins.
If customers are still without power after 4 a.m. Thursday, they are asked to report the outage by calling or texting 833-628-3400.
Residents can also monitor the status of electric service through the city’s online outage map.
City officials say the maintenance is part of ongoing efforts to modernize Oak Ridge’s electric infrastructure and prevent future service disruptions.
