NEWS RELEASE                                                                                            

For additional information, contact: Oncor Communications 877.426.1616

Thursday & Friday morning storms create additional outages

DALLAS, May 31, 2024 – Waves of storms that brought heavy rains, winds and flooding Thursday and early today have created additional power outages in north-central Texas and also caused delays in our overall restoration efforts.

Oncor estimates that our teams should restore the majority of customers that are still out of service by Friday evening, although work will continue in the hardest-hit areas through this weekend. The most impacted communities include North Dallas, East Dallas and Mesquite.

Oncor employees, contractors and mutual assistance partners – about 12,000 personnel – continue working around the clock to restore outages both from Tuesday’s storm as well as the most recent storms.

The initial storm knocked out electricity to more than 650,000 homes and businesses in north-central and eastern Texas. Our teams have already restored power to more than 600,000 customers from Tuesday’s storm and 50,000 remain.

Working safely is a priority

With heavy rain, wind and lightning, such as what hit Thursday and early today, our teams must take additional safety precautions which has slowed restoration. Heavy rain that leads to flooding also creates difficulty accessing areas where repairs are needed.

Heavy thunderstorms like we’ve experienced over the last week also cause ground-softening and weaken tree support systems. This can create new system issues as compromised trees and structures finally give way during more rounds of storms.

While significant progress has been made, Oncor recognizes the frustration and challenges customers face without power, especially after such devastating storms and we appreciate their patience.

In the hardest hit areas, teams must first clear debris and vegetation before repairs can be made. These repairs are often complex and time consuming, and will often require the reconstruction of equipment and replacement of utility poles and transformers. If you see Oncor personnel or support staff working, please give them ample space to ensure the protection of yourself and our workers.

Use caution around power lines

As homeowners and tree-trimming contractors continue the difficult work of clean-up and debris removal around their homes and businesses, Oncor urges everyone to put safety first and take extra precautions during this process.

If you see a downed power line, leave the area and call 9-1-1.

Do not attempt to trim, cut or remove trees or vegetation from your property if power lines are in the area. This work should be performed by certified professionals.

Fallen trees and debris may conceal these lines or other hazards. You should always assume a downed or low-hanging power line is energized and stay away. Additionally, anything touching the power line, such as a tree branch, could also be electrified. Keep pets, children and others away from the area.

Also, while Oncor repair efforts continue, individuals without power are encouraged to examine their home electrical equipment, including the meter base and/or weatherhead, to ensure they have not been damaged or pulled off. If so, an electrician will need to make repairs and a city inspection may be required before power can be safely restored.

To report a power outage or to check the status of an outage, download the MyOncor app, text OUT to 66267, or call 888.313.4747