North Austin News

At 8:20 p.m. Thursday, a transformer at a Southwest Austin substation went offline, resulting in a power outage for 6,400 customers. Crews responded immediately and rerouted power to other equipment, restoring power to all affected customers temporarily.

Due to the high temperatures expected today, there is concern that the additional power demand could overload the equipment, potentially causing more outages in the area. Austin Energy crews have been working through the night to investigate the issue and seek a permanent solution.

Austin Energy is currently testing the existing transformer to determine if it can be returned to service. If test results are favorable, it could be back in operation by Friday afternoon, reducing the risk of further outages.

In parallel with testing, Austin Energy is positioning a temporary transformer to serve customers. This work may take up to 24 hours and could result in additional outages today.

Customers in Southwest Austin should prepare for potential power outages by reviewing emergency plans and checking emergency kits. During outages, minimizing power surges by turning off appliances and lights is recommended. Cooling center locations and hours of operation can be found at austintexas.gov/alerts.

Energy conservation efforts are encouraged between 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., as they can help mitigate strain on the system. More conservation tips are available at austinenergy.com/summer.

Austin Energy will provide updates as new information becomes available.

A media advisory regarding this issue is planned for later today; further details will follow as they become available.

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