WEST FRANKFORT – Ameren Illinois customers in Christopher, Johnston City and West Frankfort lost power Wednesday afternoon thanks to a lightning arrester malfunctioning inside Ameren’s West Frankfort substation.

Ameren spokesperson Brian Bretsch says crews were able to reroute power from other sources. More than 1,200 customers were restored by 3:30 p.m. The substation team removed the piece of equipment that malfunctioned and the remaining 1,100 customers were restored by 4:30 p.m.

A lightning arrester protects equipment inside the substation from potential damage caused by a sudden surge of high voltage such as a lightning bolt striking inside or near the substation equipment.