Smart technology helps thousands avoid outages during May 16 tornado
Severe weather wreaked havoc on Ameren Missouri's electric system
When an EF-3 tornado tore through the St. Louis region on May 16, it left behind a trail of devastation — damaged homes, downed trees and a battered electric grid. Following the aftermath of the storm, more than 2,000 personnel, from throughout the Midwest, descended upon the worst-hit areas of St. Louis to assess the damage, remove debris and restore power to those affected by the tornado. This monumental task included rebuilding more than 100 miles of damaged electric lines and replacing more than 800 power poles affected by the storm. Despite the challenges posed by storm debris, crews were able to safely restore power to more than 100,000 customers in the first 48 hours following the tornado's touchdown.
Crews work to rebuild the electrical infrastructure damaged by the May 16 storms in St. Louis.
For tens of thousands of people in the path of the storm, their power was restored even more quickly. Smart switches strategically placed along overhead lines began automatically rerouting power to prevent an additional 34,000 outages. Those customers may have experienced a brief power flicker but otherwise avoided any prolonged service outage.
“We understand any outage can be frustrating, which is why we spend every day improving the grid to respond more quickly when disaster strikes,” said Tommie Bugett, director of Ameren Missouri’s North Metro operating center. “Thanks to years of strategic investment through the Smart Energy Plan, the storm’s impact on our customers wasn’t nearly as disruptive as it could have been, especially given the scale of damage.”
In addition to new wooden power poles and electric lines, crews installed more than a dozen composite poles as they worked to restore service and rebuild the area's electric grid. These poles, made of fiberglass and resin, are stronger than wooden poles and more resistant to damage from high winds or tree limbs.
Work to storm-harden the electric grid continues in areas impacted by the May 16 tornado, with additional composite pole installations and other line upgrades slated for this fall. Ameren Missouri also plans to deploy additional smart switches on the system by the end of 2025.
To learn more about Ameren Missouri's Smart Energy Plan and the company's work to create a more resilient and reliable electric grid, please visit AmerenMissouri.com/Plan.