The east loop of the Poplar Bluff electric transmission loop currently has a fault, according to an employee of Municipal Utilities. The affected area is currently being backfed by power from the western loop.
The employee stated a breaker locked out and the areas of town on the eastern line lost power for five minutes. The line crew is searching for the fault.
He speculated the problem could be a bad ground or loose insulation. The employee noted some areas, like behind the Westwood Boulevard CVS, did not lose power because they feed off of the western loop also.
He confirmed parts of the industrial park went dark for a short period. The employee assured the utility is exploring every solution with the available manpower.
He added one of MU’s crews is on loan to the state of Florida due to the hurricane.
“We’ve got guys on it,” he stated.
The employee did not anticipate more interruptions to power transmission.