Austin Energy on July 9 said it is sending 20 lineworkers and support personnel to the Houston area to help with restoration efforts in the wake of Hurricane Beryl, which left more than two million people without power.
The Austin Energy team departed with bucket trucks and support vehicles to help restore power to affected communities. The team is prepared to provide assistance for up to a week.
“Providing mutual aid in natural disasters is something our lineworkers take great pride in and our crews will work hard to restore power to families in Houston,” said Elton Richards, Austin Energy Vice President of Electric System Field Operations. “Any opportunity to train and hone our craft is a benefit to our community as well as those impacted by Hurricane Beryl.”
Austin Energy received the request for mutual aid from CenterPoint Energy, which estimates restoration efforts will take days or weeks and is enlisting approximately 12,000 lineworkers and vegetation management professionals for mutual assistance support.
CPS Energy, another Texas public power utility, on the morning of July 9 sent 60 crew members to Houston to help CenterPoint with restoration efforts.
Rudy Garza, President & CEO at CPS Energy, gave remarks to the crews ahead of their departure on the morning of July 9.
CPS Energy sent equipment operators, line crews, pole crews, fleet personnel, safety teams, and nursing staff to Houston, Texas.
New Braunfels Utilities
New Braunfels Utilities sent a team of linemen and support personnel to Jasper, TX.
NBU dispatched assistance around 6 a.m. yesterday with bucket trucks and support vehicles for an expected deployment of seven days. The crew will help with restoration efforts in the wake of the devastation caused by Beryl.
The City of Jasper requested mutual aid support through the Texas Public Power Association network.
“I am proud to work with such caring individuals who work not only on behalf of the New Braunfels community but are also willing to support our public power neighbors in their time of need,” said CEO Ryan Kelso. “Just as importantly, we have an outstanding team remaining behind ready to take care of any issues that may arise here. We are glad to be able to provide this assistance to another public power community as it has been offered to NBU in the past and may be needed again in the future.”
This will be NBU’s second trip to Jasper. They previously assisted the city in recovery after Hurricane Laura in August 2020.
