About 5 a.m., I was awakened by an ominous sound: The furnace running full blast then clanking to a stop.

Then the crack of a transformer blowing in the alley.

"Not again," I groaned and pulled the covers over my head.

This ice storm must have gotten worse than forecast. No way did I want to relive last year's power outage. I thought of all the people without electricity on such a cold day.

Since it was shaping up to be a long day at work covering utilities, I decided to get an early start. Using the lantern I bought after last winter's adventure, I didn't have too much trouble getting ready. Hopefully, the News-Press office would have power so I could get a cup of hot coffee. I grabbed a packet of oatmeal to make breakfast at the office and slipped a bit of orange juice out of the refrigerator. Three days, I learned last year, is how long most foods will keep cold without electricity.

No radio this morning. I didn't bother retrieving the paper off the front step to try to read it.

Watching the sun rise over the layer of ice, I noticed that the neighbors across the street had lights. The corner streetlight was shining. Those were hopeful signs the outage wasn't too widespread. Even better, a utility crew was already working in the alley. I flipped on the front porch light so they'd know when the power was restored.

After tackling the obstacle of getting the garage door open, I hurried to work and started asking coworkers if they had power. Well, of course, they answered.

Hmmmm.

By 9 a.m. I received a call from KCP&L District Manager Matt Dority. He was calling personally to tell me that my electricity was back on.

Turns out, less than 20 people in the company's entire region lost power this morning. One of them just happened to be the business editor who covers the utility.

It's a huge relief to know the power outage was very, very small and that virtually all of you have lights and internet and heat this morning. It's heartening to know I've got the survival skills to cope without electricity, at least for two hours. The best news of all is that the power is back on.