Dec 25 - McClatchy-Tribune Regional News - Kelly Hines Tulsa World, Okla.

Christmas 2007 will be especially memorable for Tulsans who are still in the dark two weeks after an ice storm hit the area.

Instead of unwrapping gifts and enjoying time with loved ones, Justin Howerton will spend the day by the phone, hoping to hear that his power will be restored soon.

"It's like waiting for a bus that never comes," said Howerton, 58.

After learning that the cost of fixing his meter box will be about $1,250, Howerton is waiting for an "Operation Power Up!" electrician to make the repairs although he's re ported the problem several times.

Howerton is grateful for the more than 60 volunteer electricians who have worked around town but is extremely frustrated because he has no timetable for when he can expect electricity, he said.

"It's stressful," he said. "It's the not knowing that gets you."

Some fortunate residents without power could still see their Christmas trees lit up Tuesday, as four electricians opted to work on the holiday to continue weatherhead and meter repairs

as part of "Operation Power Up!"

One of them is Steve Childers, an independent Tulsa electrician who said he would work from sunrise to sunset doing repairs that can take up to four hours each.

"I was without power for a week," said Childers, 47. "I know how it is, and I didn't like it.

"Isn't that what Christmas is all about, is giving?"

Childers said he has enjoyed meeting residents across Tulsa since he joined the city's power restoration program late last week.

"They're all nice," he said. "They're all happy to see you."

Those who still need an electrician for repairs can call the mayor's action line at 596-2100 until Dec. 31.

AEP-PSO cannot estimate how many Tulsa-area customers are without power because of weatherhead and meter damage, but fewer than 100 customers are without power for other reasons, said Preston Kissman, the company's vice president for distribution.

Ed Bettinger, a spokesman for American Electric Power-Public Service Company of Oklahoma, said: "We're wrapping this up. We've shifted way out of storm mode."

The company had about 50 work orders scheduled for Monday, and most of those were reconnects, Bettinger said.

Fewer than 1,000 Cox Communications customers in the area were still without services Monday, but Cox officials expect all to have service restored by Tuesday evening, said John Bowen, a Cox vice president.

The goal was to restore services to all customers by Monday night, but at least 50 Cox employees volunteered to work Christmas Day to finish the repairs, he said.

Cox crews have repaired about 16,000 lines that were detached from houses as a result of the ice storm, usually because of fallen tree limbs, Bowen said.

Mayor Kathy Taylor praised Tulsa on Monday for pulling together after the ice storm but said the work isn't finished.

"A lot has been accomplished in the past two weeks, but I assure you we won't rest until power is restored to everyone possible, and Tulsa's streets and neighborhoods are free of storm debris," Taylor said in a statement.

As "Operation Power Up!" began to wind down, its headquarters moved Monday from Expo Square to the Tulsa Fire Department Training Center, 1760 Newblock Park Drive.

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Kelly Hines 581-8408

kelly.hines@tulsaworld.com