Thousands of residents in Bee Cave and Lakeway suddenly found themselves in the dark on Thursday after a transmission-line failure cut power to wide swaths of western Travis County. Roughly 8,200 Austin Energy customers were affected, some traffic signals went out, and drivers were left inching through key intersections without the usual guidance. Lakeway police reminded motorists to treat any dark traffic lights as four-way stops and to use extra caution on local roads while crews worked to track down the fault.
Utility Map Points To Transmission-Line Problem
Austin Energy’s live outage map showed the largest cluster of outages centered in western Travis County around Bee Cave and Lakeway and listed the cause as an issue with a transmission line, with crews dispatched to the area, according to Austin Energy. The utility’s status viewer put the total number of customers affected at about 8,200 and left estimated restoration times uncertain while crews worked to isolate the fault.
Local Officials Report Traffic Signal Problems
Local television coverage captured the immediate on-the-ground effects. As reported by KVUE, Lakeway police warned that traffic signals on some city roadways might not be functioning and urged drivers to slow down and stay alert. The station noted that utility crews were spread across the affected area while many residents refreshed the outage map, hoping for a clearer restoration timeline.
Pedernales Electric Cooperative’s outage center, by comparison, showed only a small number of member outages in parts of Bee Cave and Lakeway. The co-op directed members to report problems via text or phone while crews monitored local feeders, according to Pedernales Electric Cooperative. PEC’s online tools also explain how members can sign up for alerts and check restoration status.
How To Report The Outage And Stay Safe
Austin Energy asks customers to report power losses by calling 512-322-9100, texting OUT to 287846, or checking its live outage map, and it advises residents to assume any downed lines are live and to call 911 for immediate hazards, per Austin Energy. Customers who rely on electrically powered medical equipment are urged to note that when reporting an outage so crews can flag critical needs.
This latest outage follows a recent run of spring storms that have repeatedly cut service for thousands across the Austin area, a trend local coverage has tracked in recent days. Storms Plunge 21,000 documented a larger storm-related blackout earlier this week. Utilities say crews prioritize critical facilities and the largest feeders first, so pockets of customers can remain without service while repairs continue.
