OAK RIDGE, Tenn. (WVLT) – Oak Ridge Electric is moving forward with a plan to install smart switches and a new remote control system aimed at reducing the length of power outages across the city, with new infrastructure expected to be in place by June 2027.
The announcement comes after more than 800 residents lost power on the east side of the city last Thursday. Oak Ridge Electric traced the cause to a failed connection between two conductors near Illinois Avenue and Scarboro Road. Several traffic lights along Oak Ridge Turnpike also went dark during the outage.
Outages a recurring concern for residents
Ryan Hillis, a 46-year Oak Ridge resident, said power outages occur roughly once a month in the city. He said his primary concern is for elderly neighbors and those who rely on home medical equipment.
“I’m just worried about people, if their home medical equipment, the power were to go out, they would probably not be able to breathe, or something bad would happen,” Hillis said. “I’d probably have to go to the hospital, or… they couldn’t actually pass away, and this is endangering our citizens in Oak Ridge.”…