AEP Texas and contractor crews are continuing to restore power in the upper Rio Grande Valley following several pole fires that began Thursday evening and continue today.  

A fine mist created by light precipitation combined with layers of dust that have settled on area power lines have resulted in the pole fires, leaving as many as 17,000 area customers without electric service.  As of 1:30 p.m. Friday, the number of outages had decreased to approximately 10,000 customers—predominantly in Hidalgo and Starr counties.

AEP Texas is bringing in additional crews from the Laredo area to assist in the restoration effort.   AEP Texas estimates that 70 percent of that number should see their power restored by 6 p.m., if not sooner, and 90 percent by midnight tonight.