To report unplanned power outages 24/7, call 1.800.949.4414.

Providing reliable, trouble-free electric service is our top priority. Despite our best efforts, severe weather, lightning, heavy winds and rain that usually accompany storms are a major cause of power outages.

Long before a storm hits, we’ve prepared by tracking the path of any severe weather conditions predicted for our area. We use the latest radar and weather monitoring equipment and have Bluebonnet crews ready to respond.

Treat all downed or hanging wires as if they are “live”—energized—and do not go near them. Just because wires may have been knocked around doesn’t mean they’re “dead.” Report any downed, hanging or burning wires to Bluebonnet at 1.800.949.4414 or the nearest police department.

We’re here to assist you 24 hours a day, every day. During a storm your call is very important to us. Your reports identifying trouble spots or emergencies such as downed or burning wires are helpful as we patrol lines for areas of damage. Our automated outage system is quick and easy to use and it’s the most effective way to report a power outage. if it’s available for your area. If it’s available in your area, the automated system rapidly processes your report and provides restoration update information to you.

After a major storm we tackle outages in order of severity. Typically, fire and police stations, hospitals, shelters, water and sewage treatment plants are priorities for service. We assess damage, working to make dangerous areas safe as soon as possible. We work with county agencies and local town officials to identify priorities.

Before we can restore service to individuals we must first repair damaged substations, main electric lines and wires that feed power to your area.

1. Who gets power back first?

Bluebonnet recognizes that when the lights go out public services are disrupted and can result in great cost and inconvenience to businesses and individuals. By restoring power according to the following priorities, Bluebonnet is able to restore power faster and minimize the impact of interruptions to our members.

Life threatening or hazardous conditions come first with due consideration given to priority restoration of emergency service locations. If a line is down or emergency services request assistance, we dispatch standby crews to these locations.

Our next priority is to repair any damage to our substations. Substations deliver power to many areas and communities and consist of multiple main lines. It is sometimes possible for a crew to restore power to thousands of members in a few minutes when a substation is repaired.

Next, we determine which repairs on main lines and major equipment will result in restoring power to the largest number of customers. If the interruption is on the main line carrying electricity from the substations to a community we serve, many members are affected.

Once these main lines have been repaired we can focus our attention on smaller lines. These are lines that supply power to small groups of members that live in the same neighborhood or on the same road. Bluebonnet will restore small lines that serve the most members first and then repair small lines that serve individual members. Lines that serve individual members will often come on as power is restored to the main lines and equipment.

If a member is still without power and all of their neighbors have been restored, the problem is most likely with their transformer. These individual interruptions are restored using available resources as quickly as possible.

2. What does Bluebonnet do when downed wires are reported?

Treat all wires — even those that are hanging or downed — as if they are "live" (energized). Don’t assume they are "dead". Members can report any downed or hanging wires to Bluebonnet at 1.800.949.4414 or the nearest police department.

Upon receiving a report from a customer or a police department about downed burning or live wires, we dispatch an employee to stand by the scene, warning others away until we have an opportunity to dispatch a crew to the scene to disconnect or isolate the wire from its electrical source. Members should be advised to stay clear of all downed and hanging wires and not assume that they are de-energized.

3. Are generators dangerous?

Some households use a backup generator to supply them with power during an outage. Proper installation of generators is essential to avoid electricity feeding back into our lines and endangering the lives of repair crews.

Before you buy a generator, make sure it is the right size for your needs. Always have a qualified electrician install the generator, which must be connected to your home’s wiring through a double-throw, double-pole transfer switch. This will ensure that the house wires are isolated from the utility wires. You may need a town permit or an official inspection for the generator.

Generator exhaust is deadly, so it’s essential that the unit be properly ventilated. We recommend that the unit be located outdoors.

4. Why are there so many outages after a storm?

Power outage numbers may increase during the storm restoration period in some areas for several reasons:

• As Bluebonnet employees patrol lines, they may discover outages that weren’t reported earlier.
• As more calls come into the customer service representatives, the outage reporting system gives more refined numbers.
• Branches that may have broken during the storm may come loose and fall onto lines causing additional outages.
• Depending on the time of day, customers may be at work or away from their homes and unaware of power outages to report until they discover them upon return to their homes.

Power outage numbers may decrease suddenly if large circuits that had been taken out of service by a storm are brought back into service.

5. Why do my neighbors sometimes have power and I don't?

You may be on one circuit and your neighbor on another. A home generally has different circuits for different parts of the house. When a fuse blows or a circuit breaker trips, it is possible for one room to have lights and the other room to be dark. The same concept may hold true for the power lines serving your area.

Our power lines carry high voltages, therefore they are always placed on the top of the poles with telephone and cable lines below. If a tree or limb falls, it will almost always hit the electrical wires first, which causes a short circuit on the line. Also, telephone wires are normally very thick and much stronger than the wire used to conduct electricity making them more resistant to falling trees or limbs.

Storm Preparation Tips