CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Appalachian Power Company said it’s hopeful progress can be made Monday on power restoration efforts in southern West Virginia following the weekend winter storm that produced more ice that snow in most areas.
“Right now our crews are committed to restoring customers’ power safely and quickly as possible,” utility spokesperson Ashley Workman said.
Appalachian Power reported more than 17,000 customers without service as of 11:30 a.m. Monday. Most of those, more than 13,000, are in Kanawha County where the thickest ice clung to trees and power lines causing many trees to fall and lines to break.
Workman said crews were facing a number of challenges including high wind gusts, fallen trees, deep snow, cold temperatures and a lot of ice.
“On top of that road conditions are not great in some areas,” Workman said.
Appalachian Power is urging impacted customers to view the company’s online outage map for specific restoration times and a list of warming centers.
🤔 What’s Cold Load Pickup? Chad B., an APCo engineer, explains what it is and how you can help. pic.twitter.com/5aD3JvkQ33 pic.twitter.com/jVbA5iqDQ4
— Appalachian Power (@AppalachianPowe) January 26, 2026
“We made some good progress yesterday (Sunday) and we’re hopeful to make some good progress today,” Workman said.
The company has brought in 3,000 additional field workers from other states to help in its multi-state service area that includes West Virginia, Virginia and Tennessee.
“They are strategically placed across the region. We’ve called on mutual assistance crews from a lot of different places including Wisconsin, Vermont and Michigan,” Workman said.
Workman said they can’t rule out further outages considering the conditions.
“It’s always a possibility with weather like this. We could continue to face more challenges from that heavy ice and snow,” Workman said.