EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — An 80-year-old Northeast El Paso woman had her electricity restored Saturday evening after a large metal shed crashed into her home during Thursday’s high winds, leaving her without power for several days.
Liz Gray’s power was restored at 6:32 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17, according to a response from El Paso Electric (EPE).
The restoration came after contractors helped remove the shed, which had been obstructing a service line and preventing crews from safely reconnecting electricity.
In an interview with KFOX14/CBS4, Gray said she was frustrated by the delay and the difficulty of getting answers about when her power would be restored.
“I’m beyond frustrated,” Gray said. “They spoke to the property owner. They told me if I get the shed off, they will come today and hook it up. I called three times, plus 311, and I got nothing.”
Thursday’s strong winds sent a metal shed roughly the size of a two-car garage crashing into Gray’s home, knocking out her electricity.
Gray, who is 80 and lives alone, said she was told the shed had to be removed before her power could be safely restored.
Unable to remove the structure herself, she contacted El Paso Electric and 311 while seeking assistance.
During the time of uncertainty Gray was left sitting in her car to stay warm.
As she waited for a resolution, contractors working for AT&T and Spectrum discovered their lines were trapped beneath the shed.
The contractors then decided to remove the shed for Gray to reconnect their lines.
Gray said the workers spent approximately two hours helping dismantle and remove the structure so they could access their lines.
“They got the shed down so they can put up their lines,” Gray said, expressing gratitude for their assistance.
With the shed removed, Gray’s attention remained focused on getting her electricity back on as temperatures dropped during the fall evenings.
“All I’m trying to do is get back in the house,” Gray said in the KFOX14/CBS4 interview. “I’ll be back in there tonight freezing.”
In a written response late Saturday evening, El Paso Electric said crews first responded to the property on Thursday, Oct. 15, and completed the necessary electrical repairs.
However, the company said the metal shed was encroaching on the service line, creating a safety hazard that prevented crews from reconnecting power at that time.
The utility company said personnel returned to the property Friday and again Saturday.
Once enough of the shed had been removed to allow for a safe reconnection, electricity was restored at 6:32 p.m. Saturday evening.
“Due to the size and location of the shed, along with the high winds Thursday evening, it would not have been safe for EPE crews to attempt to move it,” the company said.
The utility added that crews must wait until damaged structures or debris no longer pose an electrical hazard before safely restoring service.
“Safety is the top priority when restoring service after storm-related damage,” EPE said.
Before the restoration, Gray said she had no confirmed timeline for when she could return to her home with electricity.
She described being passed between departments and phone numbers as she sought help.
Although the shed’s removal marked a significant step toward resolving the situation, Gray remained uncertain about when utility crews would reconnect her service.
El Paso Electric’s response confirmed Saturday night that power had been restored, bringing the outage to an end after the storm damage earlier in the week.
KFOX14/CBS4 reached back out to Gray Sunday morning to confirm her service had been restored.
Gray says she is back in her home with working power.
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