UPDATE: 10:10 a.m.
According to Ameren, a major transmission line experienced a mechanical failure this morning which is impacting the electric distribution system in the south central part of the state.
 Customers in Marion, Jefferson, Perry, and Washington Counties and in some communities south of I-64 in ¾ÅÓÎÌåÓý Illinois are affected.
Crews will be working throughout the day to repair the line and restore power.
An estimated safe restoration time is not known at this time, but customers in those areas could be without power until possibly late afternoon today.Â
In the meantime, Ameren Illinois is asking all customers in the region to conserve electricity usage today to help alleviate strain on the electric grid.
ORIGINAL STORY
JEFFERSON COUNTY (WSIL) -- More than 15,000 Ameren and Tri-County Electric Cooperative customers are without power this morning in Jefferson, Perry, Marion, and Washington counties in southern Illinois according to .
Bitterly cold temperatures and dangerous wind chills make any power outages a concern as pipes become more susceptible to freezing and some resort to finding warmer shelter.
We've compiled a across the region.
In Mt. Vernon, that includes the Family Life Center located at 2901 Veterans Memorial Drive.
In Du Quoin, the Du Quoin City Hall located at 302 E Poplar Street is open as a warming center.
Ameren spokesperson Brian Bretsch tells News 3, "there is a down transmission line that is causing the outage and they plan to release more details soon."
