January 28, 2010
Austin Energy Ready for Possible Storm

Austin Energy is on alert and prepared for potential storm activity this week.

Call in Every Outage
All power outages should be reported to 322-9100. This enters the outage address into the Austin Energy Outage Management System, through which repair crews are dispatched. Every customer with an outage should call in their outage. The more addresses the system receives, the faster the system can pinpoint the piece of equipment or power line causing each outage.

In the event of large scale outages, 322-9100 converts to an automated system capable of handling up to 5,000 calls at once. Callers can input their outage by entering their PowerLink number on cue. PowerLink numbers are located in the right hand corner of utility bills.

Power outages should not be called into Austin 3-1-1. This will delay the input of outage information into the outage management system. It also ties up 3-1-1 lines needed during stormy weather to handle calls on other related problems such as tree debris in roadways, flooded roadways or other issues.

Monitor Storm Center
Customers with access to computers can monitor outage restoration efforts by visiting the Austin Energy Storm Center at www.austinenergy.com. This online map shows each outage area and the number of customers affected at each location. Customers can also enter their utility account information at Storm Center to report an outage, to determine if a repair crew has been dispatched to their outage situation or whether power has been restored at their address.

Repair Crews on Standby
Austin Energy always has 10 linemen with repair vehicles on call overnight ready to respond immediately should outages occur. Should heavy rains, windy conditions, lighting or other serious weather threaten Austin, additional repair crews as well as contract tree trimming crews will be called in to stand by for outages that may occur.

When outages occur, Austin Energy repair crews work around the clock in shifts for as long as it takes until power has been restored to all customers.