East Austin Power Outage Hits 7,000 on One of the Hottest Days of the Year

Austin Energy Outage Affects Over 7,000 Customers

On one of the year’s hottest days, more than 7,000 East Austin Energy customers experienced an extensive power outage which lasted for approximately four hours. Power was restored around 9 p.m. Wednesday, according to Matt Mitchell, a spokesperson for Austin Energy. The outage occurred just before 5 p.m. when the temperatures in the area soared to a scorching 107 degrees Fahrenheit.

Areas Affected by the Power Outage

The blackout primarily disrupted the areas east of Interstate 35 and stretched as far west as Airport Boulevard. The southernmost areas affected reached South Lakeshore Boulevard, while the northern limit was as far as East 11th Street.

High Energy Usage Caused the Blackout

Austin Energy officials confirmed that the blackout was triggered by “high energy usage causing substation equipment to trip offline,” following an official statement by Austin Mayor Kirk Watson. Mitchell confirmed to the American-Statesman that this was the main cause. The issue, according to the utilities agency, was localised and unrelated to the statewide electrical grid maintained by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas.

City Cooling Centers Kept Open Late Due To the Outage

Due to the blackout, the city’s cooling centers operated by Austin Energy kept their doors open late in the evening. Those requiring relief from the sweltering heat could seek respite at the Parque Zaragoza Recreation Center and the Pan Am Recreation Center, both of which remained open until 11 p.m., as announced by Mitchell.

On-going Situation

The situation is still developing, and more information will be provided as it becomes available. The power outage posed significant issues for East Austin residents on one of the city’s hottest days, and Austin Energy has been working tirelessly to restore power and provide relief to those affected.

This incident highlights the strain placed on power infrastructure during periods of high temperatures and increased demand. It underscores the importance of a robust and reliable power network in ensuring uninterrupted services to consumers, even as cities grapple with the challenges and changes brought on by climate change.