AEP Texas crews continue restoration of service to Abilene area

AEP Texas crews continue to make progress in restoring electric service to Abilene area residents following high winds, rains and lightning that hit the area early Monday evening. Service crews have reduced the number of outages from 24,500 as of 9:15 p.m. to around 17,780 as of 11 p.m., according to AEP Texas External Affairs Manager Greg Blair. Dyess Air Force Base was among the facilities without power as of 11:20 p.m.; however, restoration of service was expected to be completed within the next few hours, if not sooner.

All available local AEP Texas crews are working on the restoration effort and additional crews from surrounding areas also have been called in. At least 45 utility poles were damaged during the storm, and that number is expected to increase as the restoration activities and damage assessment continues.