Power Outage /tags/power-outage Power Outage en-US Copyright KUT News 2025 Thu, 22 Aug 2024 21:45:12 GMT How people stayed cool without power on Austin's hottest day of the year /energy-environment/2024-08-22/east-austin-tx-energy-power-outage-record-heat-temperature About 15,000 people were without power for several hours in East Austin on Wednesday evening. Austin Energy said high demand caused the outage. Thu, 22 Aug 2024 21:45:12 GMT /energy-environment/2024-08-22/east-austin-tx-energy-power-outage-record-heat-temperature Mose Buchele, Maya Fawaz, Luz Moreno-Lozano Council members like the idea of burying power lines. Austin Energy? Not so much. /energy-environment/2023-03-21/council-members-like-the-idea-of-burying-power-lines-austin-energy-not-so-much Calls to bury Austin power lines have increased since February's mass power outage. Austin City Council will consider two proposals this week that could eventually lead to that. Tue, 21 Mar 2023 15:47:39 GMT /energy-environment/2023-03-21/council-members-like-the-idea-of-burying-power-lines-austin-energy-not-so-much Mose Buchele Two years later, the 2021 blackout still shapes what it means to live in Texas /energy-environment/2023-02-17/two-years-later-the-2021-blackout-still-shapes-what-it-means-to-live-in-texas The blackout continues to haunt those who experienced it. Fri, 17 Feb 2023 14:22:33 GMT /energy-environment/2023-02-17/two-years-later-the-2021-blackout-still-shapes-what-it-means-to-live-in-texas Mose Buchele With job on the line, Austin's city manager offers 'heartfelt apologies' for winter storm response /energy-environment/2023-02-07/with-job-on-the-line-austin-city-manager-spencer-cronk-offers-heartfelt-apologies-for-winter-storm-response Cronk said the city would “implement changes� to better prepare for future storms, but stopped short of naming precisely how the city failed in its response to this storm. Tue, 07 Feb 2023 20:54:46 GMT /energy-environment/2023-02-07/with-job-on-the-line-austin-city-manager-spencer-cronk-offers-heartfelt-apologies-for-winter-storm-response Audrey McGlinchy More people went without power than Austin Energy 'customer' numbers might suggest /energy-environment/2023-02-07/more-people-went-without-power-than-austin-energy-customer-numbers-might-suggest When utilities talk about "customer" outages, they are talking about electric meters that are out. There's usually more than one person affected when a meter goes down. Tue, 07 Feb 2023 19:32:34 GMT /energy-environment/2023-02-07/more-people-went-without-power-than-austin-energy-customer-numbers-might-suggest Mose Buchele What do you want to ask Austin Energy and the City of Austin about the power outages? /energy-environment/2023-02-06/what-do-you-want-to-ask-austin-energy-and-the-city-of-austin-about-the-power-outages We're planning to host a radio town hall with representatives from Austin Energy, the City of Austin and KUT reporters in the coming days. Mon, 06 Feb 2023 22:03:50 GMT /energy-environment/2023-02-06/what-do-you-want-to-ask-austin-energy-and-the-city-of-austin-about-the-power-outages 'Nothing we can do': Austinites who still don't have power are feeling hopeless /energy-environment/2023-02-03/nothing-we-can-do-austinites-who-still-dont-have-power-are-feeling-hopeless More than 100,000 Austin Energy customers didn't have electricity as the sun set Friday. They're filling beds with stuffed animals to keep warm, putting in contacts by candlelight and storing groceries in coolers. Sat, 04 Feb 2023 01:04:08 GMT /energy-environment/2023-02-03/nothing-we-can-do-austinites-who-still-dont-have-power-are-feeling-hopeless Audrey McGlinchy Some Austin traffic signals are still dark, making intersections more dangerous /transportation/2023-02-03/some-austin-traffic-signals-are-still-dark-making-intersections-more-dangerous Stoplights won't come back on until the power is restored. Fri, 03 Feb 2023 22:51:54 GMT /transportation/2023-02-03/some-austin-traffic-signals-are-still-dark-making-intersections-more-dangerous Nathan Bernier Why did this ice storm cause so many power outages in Austin? /energy-environment/2023-02-03/why-did-this-ice-storm-cause-so-many-power-outages-in-austin The city has experienced ice storms in the past, but this week's wrecked local power lines like never before. Austin's tree-trimming policy and climate change played a big role. Fri, 03 Feb 2023 18:35:50 GMT /energy-environment/2023-02-03/why-did-this-ice-storm-cause-so-many-power-outages-in-austin Mose Buchele Austin Energy is 'cautiously optimistic' about repairs, but 110,000 customers still don't have power /energy-environment/2023-02-03/austin-energy-is-cautiously-optimistic-about-repairs-but-120-000-customers-still-dont-have-power Throughout the winter storm and power outages, the City of Austin has come under fire for a lack of sufficient communication. Mayor Kirk Watson began Friday morning's press conference by apologizing. Fri, 03 Feb 2023 18:26:50 GMT /energy-environment/2023-02-03/austin-energy-is-cautiously-optimistic-about-repairs-but-120-000-customers-still-dont-have-power Marisa Charpentier