Apex Residents Are In The Dark About Reporting Power Outages

When Amy Bailey's power went out Friday night, she did not dial 911. She called the number on her Apex Power bill. When she called, she received an automated message telling her to press zero in an emergency for the police.

"The police picked up and hung up on me because it was not an emergency," she says. "I was hoping they would have a dedicated line for the town of Apex so you could leave your name and address so you can be added to the list," she says.

The town-owned utility does not have a separate line. Any emergency calls, including power outages, are supposed to go through police dispatch.

During the height of Friday's storm, the entire town of Apex was without electricity -- all 7,000 customers. Town manager Bill Sutton says lines were busy and people were cut short because everyone tried to report the problem at once.

"You are always limited by the number of people on duty to answer the phones," he says.

Sutton says the current system works well except under extreme circumstances like Friday night. He says the new phone system at the new Town Hall should make getting through a lot easier."

Service was restored in Apex to all 7,000 customers by 11 p.m. Friday night.