CINCINNATI -- Residents of a North Fairmount apartment complex went without power or air conditioning for nearly 24 hours as the heat index reached into triple digits.
Residents at the Millvale Court Apartments said their power was restored Monday afternoon after going out at about 6 p.m. Sunday.
"I thought it was going to really come back on a couple hours after that, but it never came back on," said resident Tyiesha Green. "Hours went past and went past."
Sally Thelen, a Duke Energy spokesperson, said the problem was a transformer which needed to be replaced. When crews went out to assess the problem, they found it wouldn't necessarily be an easy fix. Workers needed specialized equipment to reach the failed transformer, Thelan said.
Duke Energy recommends customers have a back-up plan to stay at an alternative location in case of power outages, especially at this time of year with the extreme heat and the likelihood of severe storms causing outages.
The utility company also suggests some steps people can take to keep their homes cool.
"Try and recommend that folks keep the blinds shut during the hottest parts of the day where the sun can shine in and warm up your home," Thelan said.
She also said to avoid using the stove regularly, which can overheat a home, and to use a fan to keep circulating the cool air instead of turning down the AC temperature.
Green and the other residents dealing without power for hours said they still face other issues after it was restored.
"I just spent about $170 at the grocery store ... and it's bad now," Green said.
Duke does offer a claims process in the event of a power outage. In the meantime, the Millville Court residents will have to make due.
"This is a low-income base where kids are here, the elderly," Green said. "They're based off fixed income. They're here for a reason."
