Power restoration is a cooperative effort. Find out what happens when the electricity goes out, how to be prepared, and what you can do to help us restore power as quickly as possible.
Should Your Lights Go Out
At Sam Houston Electric Cooperative, we know that you rely on electricity every day of the year. Our crews and staff are ready to respond 24 hours a day, 7 days a week – even on holidays. If your power does go out, here’s how you can help us restore it as quickly as possible.
Report the Outage
Call our toll-free outage number at (888) 444-1207 to report an outage. Be sure to have your account number ready. Never assume that someone else will call to report an outage. By reporting outages promptly, you help us pinpoint problem areas, allowing us to restore power more quickly.
Stay Connected
We have multiple sources to keep you informed when your power is out. Our Sam Houston website is smartphone and tablet friendly – making it easy for you to access. The Outage Center will connect you to all our outage-related resources. The outage viewer allows you to see the location of outages, number of meters affected, streets affected, and an outage restoration status. We also post outage updates, press releases, and other information during a major outage.
Get Social
We frequently post outage updates and information via social media. You can “like” us on Facebook and follow us on X (Twitter). Go ahead and get connected with us before an outage happens – our social media accounts also offer energy-saving tips and Cooperative news.
Be Patient
The extent of damange to our distribution system dictates the length of time you could be left without power. Rest assured that our crews are working hard, often in nasty weather, to restore your power as quickly and safely as possible. Please know that you patience is appreciated while we work to restore your power.
Powering Up
When electricity goes out, most of us expect power will be restored within a few hours. But then a major storm causes widespread damage, longer outages may result. Co-op line crews work long, hard hours to restore service safely to the greatest number of consumers in the shortest time possible.
Here’s what’s going on when you find yourself in the dark.
1
High-Voltage Transmission Lines
Transmission towers and cables that supply power to transmission substations (and thousands of members) rarely fail. But when damaged, these facilities must be repaired before other parts of the system can operate.
2
Distribution Substation
Each substation serves hundreds or thousands of consumers. When a major outage occurs, line crews inspect substations to determine if problems stem from transmission lines feeding into the substation, the substation itself, or if problems exist down the line.
3
Main Distribution Lines
If the problem cannot be isolated at a distribution substation, distribution lines are checked. These lines carry power to large groups of consumers in communities or housing developments.
4
Tap Lines
If local outages persist, supply lines, called tap lines, are inspected. These lines deliver power to transformers, either mounted on poles or placed on pads for underground service, outside businesses, schools, and homes.
5
Individual Homes
If your home remains without power, the service line between a transformer and your residence may need to be repaired. Always call to report an outage to help line crews isolate local issues.
Be Prepared
Outage Emergency Kit
Even common household items can be hard to find in the dark. Take a few minutes to prepare an outage emergency kit and store it in an easy-to-find place where everyone knows to look for it.
Here are a few ideas on what to include:
- Sam Houston EC’s toll-free outage number: (888) 444-1207 and your account number
- Flashlight
- Extra batteries
- Battery-powered radio
- Battery-operated clock
- Water
- Non-perishable food
- First aid supplies, medicine
- Important documents
Hurricane Preparedness
It’s always best to be prepared for hurricane season. The Texas Division of Emergency Management urges residents to listen for instructions when a hurricane threatens and, if an evacuation is called for your area, get going without delay.
Here are a few other guidelines offered by the Texas Division of Emergency Management:
- Discuss evacuation plans before one is ordered.
- Monitor national weather radio and television broadcasts.
- Prepare an emergency supply kit.
- Learn evacuation routes.
- Dial 2-1-1 to register with the State of Texas if you have special healthcare needs or if you do not have transportation.
For more emergency information, visit Ready.gov’s hurricane information.
Storm Safety
Stay safe after storms and floods with our Storm Safety section. See tips for handling downed power lines, using portable generators, disaster relief resources, and more. Also check out our Storm Safety FAQs for answers to common storm safety questions.
Generator Safety
Given our dependence on electricity, it’s easy to understand why portable generators are becoming more popular when the power goes out and stays out for a while. But, generators can do more harm than good if not used properly.
Here are a few tips to protect yourself and our line technicians who are working to restore your power.
- Never connect a standby generator into your home’s electrical system.
- Utilize an approved generator transfer switch or plug the appliance directly into the outlet provided on the generator.
- Set up and run your generator in a well-ventilated area outside the home. Make sure it’s out and away from your garage, doors, windows, and vents.
- Start the generator first before connecting appliances.
- Use a heavy-duty extension cord to connect electrical appliances to the outlet on the generator.
View more generator safety tips.
Download this information to save or print – Power Restoration – A Cooperative Effort (PDF)