Austin Energy Grid Fire Leads to Widespread Outages, Road Closures

Grid Fire Causes Power Outages

On Tuesday, February 14, 2023, a fire broke out at the Austin Energy substation in southeast Austin at the intersection of Highway 290 and FM 812. The fire, which started around 1:30 p.m., quickly spread, causing significant damage to the substation and leading to widespread power outages throughout the area. The outages affected more than 150,000 customers in southeast Austin, including parts of the city of Manchaca. Austin Energy crews worked throughout the night to restore power, and by Wednesday morning, most customers had their power back.

Road Closures Due to Fire

In addition to the power outages, the fire also caused several road closures in the area. Highway 290 was closed in both directions between FM 812 and McKinney Falls Parkway. FM 812 was also closed in both directions between Highway 290 and Slaughter Lane. The road closures caused significant traffic delays in the area, and drivers were advised to avoid the area if possible.

Fire Investigation

Investigators are working to determine the cause of the fire. However, they believe that it started in the substation's transformer yard. The transformer yard is where the substation's transformers are located. Transformers are used to convert electricity from one voltage to another.

Impact of the Fire

The Austin Energy grid fire had a significant impact on the city of Austin. The power outages disrupted businesses, schools, and homes. The road closures also caused traffic delays and headaches for drivers.

Austin Energy's Response

Austin Energy crews worked throughout the night to restore power to affected customers. By Wednesday morning, most customers had their power back. Austin Energy also set up a customer service hotline to answer questions and provide updates on the situation. The hotline number is (512) 494-9400.

Conclusion

The Austin Energy grid fire was a serious incident that caused significant disruption to the city of Austin. However, Austin Energy crews worked quickly to restore power and minimize the impact of the fire. The investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing, and we will update this blog post as more information becomes available.