Widespread power outages across area hit by storms

Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative released the following press brief detailing power outages in the area hit by overnight storms.

Here is an update with estimated outage restoration times based on the colors on our outage viewer: 

http://outage.bluebonnetelectric.coop:82/

Outages in purple, estimated to be restored by 8 p.m. today.
Outages in red, by 8 p.m. today.
Outages in orange, by noon Saturday.
Outages in yellow, by noon Saturday.
Outages in blue, by 8 p.m. Saturday.

These times are rough estimates; we will reassess them every four hours and adjust them, if necessary.  We are directing members to the outage viewer and our Facebook and Twitter sites for up-to-date information.

Due to flooding, we are still unable to reach many areas with large outages. But the 250 employees and contractors who are working today in areas we can reach are making good progress. At 9:15 a.m., our outage viewer showed 464 outages affecting 7,971 members. As soon as the water recedes and we can access those areas, we will begin assessing damage and restoring power.

We greatly appreciate everyone’s patience during these outages. And we understand and share everyone’s frustration, too. We know what it’s like to be without power; that’s why we work so hard to get it restored.

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A powerful, lingering storm system caused widespread outages and flooding in Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative’s service area overnight Thursday and Friday morning. At 4:30 a.m. Friday, Bluebonnet reported 382 power outages affecting 9,674 members. Record rainfall caused flooding and closed roadways, preventing the co-op’s crews from reaching many outages.

“We have experienced an unprecedented amount of rain in some parts of our system and flooded roadways are greatly impeding our restoration efforts,” said Bluebonnet’s General Manager Mark Rose. “Overnight we had 12 crews, with 30 employee and contractors working to restore power to areas we could access. We won’t stop until all outages are restored.

“We have organized maximum effort. Beginning at 7 a.m. Friday we will have 250 men and women in the field working to repair damage and restore power. We know how frustrating it is to be without power. We ask our members to have patience while our employees and contractors work nonstop to get their power back on,” Rose said.

The 250 men and women working to restore power will consist of about 100 Bluebonnet employees, 20 contractor crews, with 80 personnel, and at least 20 tree-trimming contractor crews, with about 80 personnel. “This matches the resources Bluebonnet put into the field a month ago, during the last round of severe storms that caused system-wide power outages April 30 through May 2,” Rose said.

Throughout the day Friday, Bluebonnet crews and contractors will continue working to restore power in areas they can access. Bluebonnet will constantly monitor road closures and flood levels. As soon as the water recedes, crews will move into areas cut off by flooding to assess damage and begin restoring power.
Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative is one of the largest electric cooperatives in Texas and has been serving its members since 1939. Bluebonnet serves more than 89,000 meters and owns and maintains 11,000 miles of power lines, located across more than 3,800 square miles within 14 Central Texas counties. Bluebonnet’s service area stretches from Travis County to Washington County, and from Milam County to Gonzales County. For more information about Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative, go to bluebonnet.coop and follow the co-op on Facebook and Twitter.