Update at 3:25 p.m. on Monday, Aug 31 - Transmission service in Tyler County has been restored, and power to Sam Houston EC members has been restored as well. This was a transmission line issue and was not a load shedding or rolling blackout. As of this time, MISO has not required Sam Houston EC to shed load or initiate rolling blackouts, although this remains a possibility in the coming days. We are communicating with MISO and Entergy, and we will continue to keep our Co-op members informed.
Update at 2:15 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 31 - The current outage in Tyler County is not a load shed or rolling blackout event. It is related to transmission lines, however. When Sam Houston EC receives an update from Entergy regarding the status of the transmission issue in that area, we will pass it along to Co-op members.
Monday, August 31, 11:30 a.m.
Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) has advised Sam Houston EC that there is a possibility of service interruptions in the coming days, as repairs are made to the transmission grid that was heavily damaged by Hurricane Laura. MISO is the regional transmission operator for the middle portion of the U.S. and into parts of Canada.
MISO will notify Sam Houston EC if it becomes necessary to reduce (shed) load, which would create a “rolling blackout” scenario. At this time, it is not possible to know for certain if load shedding will be required, where it will happen, or the duration. However, please be assured that your team at Sam Houston EC is in regular communication with MISO and the transmission provider (Entergy) to keep any interruptions as brief as possible.
We will do our best to keep Co-op members informed as we hear from MISO.
In the meantime, extreme high temperatures are compounding the issue with increased power demand. You can help by reducing your electricity consumption during the peak hours from mid-afternoon until dusk.
Here are a few ways you can help by conserving energy. Plus, there’s the added benefit of lowering your electricity bill.
- adjusting the thermostat a few degrees warmer
- doing laundry at night or in the morning
- running dishwashers overnight
- raise your thermostat if you leave your home for long periods of time.
Follow the Cooperative’s Facebook page and website for the latest information and updates.
