The Woodlands Township discusses electricity outages in The Woodlands

THE WOODLANDS, TX -- Most all residences and businesses in the Montgomery County portion of The Woodlands were without electricity as part of rolling power outages today throughout Southeast Texas.

According to Entergy, the electricity provider for the Town Center and villages of Alden Bridge, Cochran’s Crossing, College Park, Grogan’s Mill, Indian Springs, and Panther Creek, the company said it is taking the action to avoid a more extensive, prolonged power outage that could severely affect the reliability of the power grid. The Village of Creekside Park, which is served by Centerpoint Energy, was not affected.

Entergy is not currently able to provide a time frame when they expect to restore power to 100 percent capacity.'The Woodlands Township is in contact with Entergy and has requested advance notice or a schedule for potential rolling blackouts,' said Township Chairman Gordy Bunch. “We will communicate if those can be produced.”

Street lights may lose power. Be careful, remember intersections without functioning lights are treated as a four-way stop. Law Enforcement and generators are being deployed to assist with intersection management.

The Woodlands Fire Department responded to several auto accidents as well as elevator rescues today in the Town Center.

“Please let our Firefighters, Sheriff Deputies and EMTs know you appreciate them when you see them,” Chairman Bunch said.

Regarding the electricity, Entergy said in a news release that the issue is a combination of the extensive damage to Entergy’s transmission system caused by Hurricane Laura and the anticipated high demand for electricity due to high temperatures. Most of the outages began to occur during the noon hour and restoration began mid afternoon. A map at 6 p.m. still showed large portions of outage.
Entergy said it was directed to launch the power outages by the Midcontinent Independent System Operator as a last resort to prevent a more extensive and prolonged power outage that could damage the reliability of the power grid that stretches from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico. The unusual circumstances reflect the extensive damage to Entergy’s transmission system caused by Hurricane Laura along the Texas and Louisiana border and expected high demand for electricity.

Entergy is also asking customers in the western service area north of Houston to voluntarily reduce their electricity use. Follow these tips below:


• Raising their air conditioner thermostat to 78 degrees and check the filter to be sure it is clean.

• Closing window blinds, drapes and curtains to reduce warming in the home from direct sunlight.

• Wash clothes with cold water or delay laundry and bathing until later in the evening or early morning to reduce humidity which makes air conditioners work harder.

• Cook foods at the lowest possible setting and resist the temptation to open the oven door while baking.

• Do not allow cooled air to escape from the home. Check caulking around doors and windows. Close the fireplace damper. Fill holes and gaps where wiring and pipes enter the house.

• Make sure your clothes dryer and attic are vented properly.

For the latest updates regarding the power outage, please visit the Entergy website at www.entergy-texas.com