Oncor has stationed more than 10,000 people to respond to damage caused by the impending winter storm. As of 6:30 a.m., thousands of people were without power.
DALLAS — Thousands of Texans are without power on Saturday morning as a winter storm is expected to move through North Texas this weekend.
As of 11:30 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 24, more than 16,000 people were without power as the storm moved through Oncor’s service territory, the agency said in a press release. Oncor’s service area includes the majority of North Texas and parts of West Texas.
MAP: Oncor power outages in North Texas
In response to the storm, about 10,000 Oncor personnel and contractors were positioned across North Texas to respond to issues related to the storm. Personnel include damage evaluators, lineworkers, tree trimming crew members and other restoration personnel.
“While new outage events are likely as freezing rain and ice accumulation is expected to increase, restoration efforts will continue around the clock,” the release states.
Ice accumulation is the biggest threat to electricity service, the release states. Ice accumulation can weigh down tree limbs, causing them to sag or break onto power lines.
Before linemen can begin to make repairs, damage evaluators must assess areas impacted by ice and snow to check the conditions of poles, wires, transformers and more to ensure the right people are assigned to each location.
Where are we seeing outages across North Texas?
Over 1,500 people were without power on Saturday morning in southern Dallas, according to the Oncor outage map. The 75115 ZIP code was hard hit and 1,787 people there lost power.
Customers in Burleson also lost power. As of about 7:19 a.m., 885 people did not have power in the 76028 ZIP code.
Oncor is encouraging customers to stay safe during winter weather by following these tips:
Stay weather aware, monitor local media and have multiple ways to receive severe weather alerts. Check on neighbors and elderly or vulnerable residents.Register for MyOncor Alerts by texting “REG” to 66267, download the MyOncor App and follow Oncor on Facebook and X. If you see a downed power line, stay away, keep people and pets away and call 911 immediately.Helpful individual and family resources are available on the TDEM Disaster Portal and road conditions can be checked at DriveTexas.org.To find warming centers opened and operated by local officials, visit tdem.texas.gov/warm. Locations and availability may change. For the latest information, please call 211 or check your city and county webpages.While prioritized during power restoration events, critical care designations do not guarantee an uninterrupted power supply, especially during severe weather. Customers who rely on electricity for life-saving medical devices should have a plan in case of power outages. Anyone experiencing an emergency event should call 911 immediately.If possible, bring pets inside during cold weather. If pets must be outside, ensure they have adequate shelter and access to non-frozen drinking water. Move other animals or livestock to sheltered areas and also make sure they have access to non-frozen drinking water.