San Antonio's weather has been nothing short of tumultuous, as back-to-back severe storms have left the city grappling with widespread power outages and infrastructural havoc. According to KENS 5 News, more than 31,000 residents found themselves without power yesterday evening when the storms barreled through, casting a blend of unwelcome downpours and hail across the region. CPS Energy, the nation's largest community-owned energy utility, reportedly had its crews working feverishly into the night to restore power.
In the aftermath, the damage was extensive. The storms accounted for over 8,000 lightning strikes, disrupting the lives and routines of many. A peak in outages saw upwards of 45,000 customers without power, with CPS Energy's outages map reflecting a strenuous journey back to normalcy. In a statement obtained by CPS Energy's Newsroom, the crews were said to be "working to restore 327 outages impacting 10,257 customers this morning."
The response from the CPS Energy teams has been met with nods of approval, considering the rapid reduction in outages. Making significant headway, they trimmed the number of powerless homes and businesses from over 31,000 to fewer than 2,000 by 7:10 a.m., according to KENS 5 News. The company has been coordinating repairs, prioritizing larger outages first and smaller ones subsequent.
While the physical restoration is underway, caution remains paramount. CPS Energy has cautioned residents against approaching or attempting to navigate around fallen power lines, urging them to notify the utility immediately. With 37 downed wires left to fix, they reminded the public to "please Move Over Slow Down as you see crews working on the side of the road," to ensure both driver and crew safety, their Newsroom reported. Despite the turmoil, the utility maintains a steadfast commitment to their Vision 2027 strategic plan, guiding CPS Energy through these transformational challenges.
In the face of adversity, CPS Energy has adopted a tone of gratitude for its customers’ patience and continues to offer live updates on service restoration via its outage map.
