In South Milwaukee, a chilling scene unfolded as We Energies crews braved the bitter cold to respond to an emergency call. A blown transformer had knocked out power and heat to 15 homes near Hemlock Court and Carroll Avenue, leaving residents shivering in temperatures that felt like -30 degrees with the wind chill. John Hochevar, one of the affected residents, shared his experience: "Nice and warm so far, as long as we don't keep the doors open too long, we're fine." But for the We Energies workers, the situation was far from comfortable. Brendan Conway, a spokesperson for We Energies, explained that while the exact cause of the transformer issue was unclear, cold weather could have been a contributing factor. "Sometimes when our crews get on the scene, it's obvious, but sometimes it's just something triggered it, but what we are first focused on is getting there, determining if we can, but then fixing it," Conway said. The freezing temperatures forced We Energies to alter its operation strategy, with crews working outside only on emergencies and more workers assigned to each call. "We have doubled crews so that they can switch in and out, get the work done as quickly and safely as possible. They can get warm if need be," Conway assured. Despite the challenges, Hochevar expressed sympathy for the crews working in the cold, acknowledging their efforts. "I feel sorry for them. They're doing a great job, but yeah, it's got to be tough. Just standing here, we're cold already, and they've got to be using their hands and stuff, and their face has got to be in the cold," he said. The crews in South Milwaukee worked tirelessly, taking about three hours to replace the transformer and restore power. "This required some special equipment, required a lot of people, a lot of effort, but they did get it done. And you know what, when they're done here, they're probably going to head to another job if there is one," Conway noted. We Energies advises residents who lose power to keep doors shut as much as possible and to open shades when the sun is shining to help maintain warmth. As the crews worked, the residents of South Milwaukee waited with bated breath, grateful for the efforts of We Energies to restore their comfort in the face of brutal cold.
