On Friday, Dec. 29, OG&E reported approximately 71,000 of its customers were still without electric service, 38,000 of them in Oklahoma. OG&E asks all customers with telephone service to call to report power outages at their home or business address. Please call the toll-free, 24-hour number, (800) 522-6870.

OG&E is using every available means to restore power to its customers as quickly as possible. All available OG&E personnel are involved in the restoration effort. In addition, the company has brought in many out-of-state crews, bringing the total number of people working the restoration effort to nearly 1,000.

“Our people in the field are working in extremely difficult circumstances,” said Paul Renfrow, OG&E spokesman. “We appreciate our customers' patience as we work as fast as we can to bring their electricity back.”

Renfrow said even as power is being restored, some new power outages are being reported as trees, power poles and lines buckle under the pressure from heavy ice. In some cases, thawing has caused additional problems.

“We are also concerned that the wind will increase in this area, which could trigger even more outages,” Renfrow said. “But our people are working as hard and fast as they can, and they won't stop until every last customer's electricity is restored.”

OG&E noted that in some locations, damage to homes and other buildings will prevent the restoration of electric service. In some cases, property owners will need to have repairs completed by a certified electrician.

OG&E said the 2000 ice storm is the worst in its service territory since 1987. Hardest-hit this time is the Fort Smith, Ark. area. Other areas in the OG&E service territory with extensive ice-related damage include southern and eastern Oklahoma.

OG&E, Oklahoma's largest electric utility, serves 700,000 customers in a service territory spanning 30,000 square miles in Oklahoma and western Arkansas.