CWLP Crews Restore Power After Pole Fire
A damaged switch on a fire-hit pole left more than 1,600 Springfield customers without power on the morning of November 4.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Utilities
Crews from City Water, Light & Power responded to an outage caused by a damaged switch on a pole that caught fire on Robbins Road south of Hollis Drive. Two circuits from the Westchester substation were initially affected, impacting over 1,600 customers.
Why it matters
The outage left a large share of Springfield households and businesses without electricity during a weekday morning. Isolating the damage through circuit switching limits how many customers remain dark while the failed pole is repaired.
Over 1,600 customers were initially affected across two circuits from the Westchester substation. Crews are switching to shrink the outage, but the remaining customer count after switching has not been reported.
The players
City Water, Light & Power (CWLP)
Springfield's municipal utility, which operates the electric system serving the city and whose crews are replacing the damaged pole and restoring service.
The details
CWLP crews are switching circuits to isolate the outage to fewer customers near the damage area. The larger affected zone runs from Veterans Parkway to Lenhart Road, between W. Iles Avenue and I-72, while the remaining outage is expected to center on Hollis Drive and Robbins Road.
Timeline
November 4, 2026, just before 6 a.m.: the pole caught fire and the outage began.
Industry Context
Municipal utilities like CWLP typically restore service by switching circuits to isolate faulted equipment before repairing it, limiting the number of customers out at any one time. This incident follows that restoration pattern, isolating a single damaged pole rather than a broader grid failure.
Springfield residents on the affected circuits may have lost power for part of the morning. Customers near Hollis Drive and Robbins Road should expect the outage to be limited to a smaller area after the next round of switching.
The takeaway
Utility outages from a single damaged pole can often be narrowed quickly through circuit switching, so residents in affected areas can plan for a shorter disruption. Keep an eye on official CWLP updates for restoration progress.
Further reading
Find more on Springfield Utilities coverage of local power and infrastructure.
