The High Point North Apartments in North Austin have found themselves entangled in darkness for over a week, and the circumstances leading to their plight reveal a tangle of misfortune and crime. The initial blackout began on November 20, due to a vehicle colliding with a powerline. Although power was restored after 37 hours, the relief was brief as outages persisted, as reported by CBS Austin.
An email from Amir Kalantari, the complex's manager cited by Headtopics, communicates that multiple incidents of wire theft on the property have exacerbated the community's woes. While the residents languish without electricity, thieves profit from their desperation, but at a cost much less than the exorbitant price of repairs, which can run into the thousands, or possibly even $10,000.
The impact of this outage extends beyond mere inconvenience. It affects families, seniors, disabled individuals, and those with mental health issues residing within the complex. "For seven days, [management] has had families, seniors, disabled individuals, people with mental health issues, living in the dark with no lights," Toby Nunley, a resident impacted by the outage, stated by CBS Austin.
An anonymous electrician told CBS Austin they've visited the complex several times recently, only to find more wires damaged or missing each time. The electrician said the repair, which should have taken a day, had been delayed due to ongoing theft. They don't know when the issue will be resolved or power restored.
