BLUEBONNET ELECTRIC CREWS BUSY RESTORING POWER
Update: 7:30pm Staurday 8-26-2017
Bluebonnet crews have made good progress on restoring power outages during the day. However, a new band of heavy rainfall and high winds resulted in new, additional outages across our service area, but particularly in Bastrop and Caldwell counties. At 7:15 p.m. we reported 46 outages affecting 1,080 members.
The 50-plus internal and contractor crews we had in the field today will stay out until about 8 p.m. We had 13 internal crews, consisting of about 30 linemen, come on at 6 p.m. to restore power overnight. We also have 12 contractor power restoration crews and 15 contractor tree-removal crews available to deploy overnight if we identify outages they can effectively and safely restore. Working at night, especially in high winds and heavy rain, is much more difficult and therefore slower than during the day. However, our crews will continue to work as quickly and safely as possible as long as we have members without power.
Update: 1:00pm Saturday 8-26-2017
At 1 p.m. Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative reported 54 outages affecting 1,067 members. The largest single outage was west of Lockhart, along TX 130 and TX 142, affecting 508 members. Bluebonnet’s crews continue to work through the rain and wind to restore power as quickly and safely as possible. Most of the outages were wind-related, two of the three largest outages during this storm were caused by wind-blown trees downing power lines. Those outages are the most time-consuming and labor-intensive to repair and restore power.
We currently have 32 two-person Bluebonnet crews working to restore power. We have brought in additional contractor crews to help restore power and trim and remove downed trees. At 1 p.m. we have deployed five four-person power restoration contractor crews and eight four-person contractor tree-trimming and removal crews. All crews are working 12-hour shifts, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. We will continue to work around the clock until Hurricane Harvey has dissipated and power has been fully restored.
Safety is our number one priority. If anyone sees downed power lines, they should avoid them, stay far away, do not walk near them or drive over them. Always assume the downed power lines are live, energized and dangerous. If anyone sees a downed power line, they should immediately call 911 and report it to Bluebonnet by calling 800-949-4414, leaving a detailed message with the location of the line, their name and phone number. To report a power outage, call 800-949-4414 or via Bluebonnet’s website, bluebonnet.coop, or mobile app.