Thousands still without power
STROUDSBURG, Pa. (AP) – Electric utility officials in northeast Pennsylvania said they are still struggling to restore power to a swath of the state that has been encased in ice since Thursday. PPL Corp. had initially estimated that almost all of its customers could have power restored by Tuesday, but the company said it may take longer to reverse the damage caused by a pair of ice storms last week.
More than 25,000 of its customers remained without electricity Monday night.
The utility said it had 365 linemen and electricians out repairing lines damaged by falling trees and branches snapped by the heavy ice. But with cold weather keeping the ice from melting, branches have continued to come down, in some cases severing power lines that had already been fixed once. “We’re treading water here,” PPL spokesman George Lewis said.
Two people were killed by fumes from a generator in the basement of one of the homes that lost power because of the storm, authorities said.
Robert Gower, 57, and his companion, Pauline Mosteller, 73, died from carbon monoxide poisoning in their home in Chestnuthill Township, Monroe County Deputy Coroner Elwood Longyhore said Sunday. Family members discovered the bodies Saturday afternoon, Longyhore said.
Some of the most extensive remaining power outages were happening in the Poconos.
PPL said it expected to have most of its customers in Monroe County back on the power grid by Wednesday evening, but said it may take until Thursday to restore service to every customer.