8-hour blackout planned for Marion

Evergy, wholesale supplier of electricity to the city of Marion, will shut off power to all 1,190 city power customers from 10 p.m. May 10 until about 6 a.m. May 11, the city announced this week.

The blackout will allow workers to disconnect an aging transmission line and connect a replacement line designed to increase reliability.

Evergy originally planned to change the lines in November, but prospect of residents being without heat for eight hours during cold weather caused the blackout to be rescheduled.

Residents who use oxygen concentrators, CPAP machines, lift chairs and beds, and similar electronic aids are likely to be most affected.

When the November blackout was announced, the city included an offer to allow people who rely on electricity to temporarily take shelter in the city building, which has a backup generator.

Announcement of the latest blackout plans did not include a similar offer but may as the blackout date nears.

Evergy itself offers a special program for customers who rely on electronic equipment.

However, because Evergy does not sell directly to Marion customers and instead provides only wholesale transmission service to the city, the program does not apply.