Volunteers from the Tennessee Valley Authority Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant clean up storm debris at a residence in Coxey, Ala. A dangerous storm system that spawned a chain of deadly tornadoes over two days flattened homes and businesses, and killed dozens from the Midwest to the Deep South.With 38 of its transmission towers damaged or destroyed by storms this week, the Tennessee Valley Authority is still working to restore electrical service and connections with its hardest hit distributor in Tupelo, Miss.
But TVA President Bill Johnson said today that TVA "is almost completely restored" its connections with most of its distributors and direct served customers following tornadoes and thunderstorms Monday and Tuesday.
"At the height of the storm we had more than 50,000 customers out of power, most of those with local distribution," Johnson said."By the end of today, we hope to be back full."
As of about noon today, local power companies across TVA's service region are reporting about 29,500 customers still without power.
TVA spokesman Jim Hopson said TVA had 10 transmission lines and one substation under repairs today from multiple TVA crews.
"Full restoration of all of TVA's downed lines will likely be completed by this weekend," Hopson said.
In the interim, TVA has been able to reroute most of its power along other transmission lines.