Power Restored to Six out of 10 TNMP Customers

(FORT WORTH, Texas) – TNMP, a provider of electrical transmission and distribution services to approximately 115,000 customers in the Gulf Coast region, continues restoration efforts in its service territory and has already restored power to more than 69,000 customers.

With most major repairs to transmission systems and circuits that serve large numbers of customers now completed, TNMP crews, with the help of mutual assistance crews from throughout the region, now plan to focus efforts on restoring power to individual homes and neighborhoods by trimming tree branches and repairing equipment on the lateral lines, which energize small groups of homes and communities in the TNMP service territory. Customers are reminded that this phase of the restoration involves increased manual labor, and crews will be replacing poles, transformers and other equipment is usually time intensive. 

“TNMP is ahead of the game when it comes to restoring power in our service area,” said Neal Walker, TNMP vice president of Texas operations.  “The difficult part is still ahead of us, though, and we ask for customers to exercise patience while our 700 crew members work to get power back on in the homes and businesses of our customers.”

Walker asks customers not only to be patient, but also to work with TNMP to ensure that work is completed safely and efficiently.  Here are some things customers can do to help facilitate the process and avoid any scams that might arise out of the situation in the Gulf Coast:

• Turn on Front Porch Lights: For customers without power, flipping front porch light outlets to the on position helps TNMP crews determine which streets have power and which streets may still be in need of repair.
• Let Crews Do Their Work: Outside of emergencies, please allow the TNMP and mutual assistance crews complete their critical work.  If crews are in your neighborhood, they are there specifically to help make repairs and restore power to your home or business.  Interrupting them makes the work take longer, so please let them do their job of restoring service as quickly as possible.
• Avoid Scams: Some TNMP customers have reported instances of receiving telephone calls from someone claiming to be calling from TNMP.  The caller promises to restore power more quickly to customers if they pay a fee by providing credit card information over the phone.  Please be assured that TNMP does not fast track restoration by charging its customers, and that all customers will be restored as soon as possible.  TNMP will never call customers asking for payment during the restoration process, and customers are urged to never give out credit card or other personal information over the telephone.
• Be Safe: In the days to come, TNMP customers will see many TNMP and other utility employees in their neighborhoods making repairs.  If someone claiming to be a utility worker asks for permission to enter your home or business, please do not grant them access and call the police immediately.  TNMP employees will never ask to enter your residence or business.  On occasion, a TNMP employee may knock on doors to ensure that power has been restored, but they will not ask to come inside.  Also, customers should be aware that TNMP employees will wear clothing with official TNMP insignias visible and drive vehicles with TNMP logos on the doors.  Plus, all TNMP employees will carry official TNMP employee badges.

TNMP estimates that approximately 46,000 Gulf Coast customers remain without power – about 6,500 in Brazoria County and 39,500 in Galveston County.  This estimate includes customers in Texas City, Dickinson, League City, Friendswood, Alvin, La Marque, Angleton, Sweeny, West Columbia, Brazoria, Bailey’s Prairie, Hillcrest Village and Holiday Lakes.  TNMP dispatched an estimated 700 crew members to restore power to areas impacted by Hurricane Ike, and while the company is making every effort to restore power as quickly as possible, some areas with extensive damage could take up to ten more days until power is fully restored.

At this time, TNMP indicates that power has been restored to at least some parts of every community it serves.  Power has been restored to approximately 61 percent of all customers in the TNMP service area.

TNMP customers with Internet access can view updated outage information by visiting www.tnmp.com.  Customers can contact TNMP by calling its toll-free customer service line, which is (888) 866-7456, to report extreme emergencies as a result of hurricane-related outages. Customers also are asked to be patient, as full restoration of service for most customers isn’t expected for several days.  Full restoration in areas with extensive damage could take up to two weeks. TNMP customers are reminded to use caution in the wake of the hurricane by avoiding all downed lines.  Customers should assume any line seen on the ground is energized and should remain a safe distance away.