KANSAS CITY, Kan. -- Kansas City Power and Light has more than 500,000 energy customers. It prepared for an ice storm that could match the storm of January 2005, when more than 100,000 customers lost power.

Late Tuesday morning, about 27,000 KCP&L customers and more than 35,000 Aquila customers were without electricity in the metro area. More than 45,000 Aquila customers in St. Joseph, Mo. were without power at 12 p.m. Tuesday.

About 1,000 KCP&L workers were in place to assist customers.

In fact, KCP&L officials said that just about everybody companywide was reading through a six-inch-thick restoration plan manual. KCP&L officials said their system is set up to handle a half-inch of freezing rain and 40 mph winds.

"KCP&L workers will need outside help to assist customers during the ice storm," said Bill Herdegen of KCP&L. "We are working with all our suppliers with neighboring utility companies, tree contractors -- construction is beginning the process of lining up who is out there that can support us."

If you are a KCP&L customer and you lose power, call 888-LIGHTKC. KCP&L is asking customers to be prepared and patient. Aquila customers who lose power should call 800-303-0357. Board of Public Utilities customers without power should call 913-573-9522. Westar's customer service number is 800-LIGHTKS.

Herdegen said this storm could cost KCP&L $10 million if it turns out to be of the magnitude expected.

Several thousand BPU customers were without electricity Tuesday morning in Wyandotte County, according to BPU spokesperson Susan Allen.

Allen said the emergency management team for Wyandotte County was meeting to discuss possibly opening shelters until power could be restored.