Due to continued frigid weather across Texas, the regional electric grid is operating under emergency conditions. Utilities statewide, including the Kerrville Public Utility Board (KPUB), have been directed to reduce demand. The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) issued a Level 3 Energy Emergency Alert 3 on Monday, February 15, at 1:20 a.m., and rotating managed outages have begun since then.
As a result, service interruptions will occur throughout the KPUB service territory. These service interruptions will continue as long as the regional grid operator experiences peak demand.
Customers are experiencing very long rolling outage times throughout this event, statewide. Some customers may experience longer outages if failures occur during the restoration process. We cannot provide estimated times of restorations & ask for patience as we have thousands of customers without power. That is all controlled through ERCOT—our state grid operator—and LCRA), and KPUB has no control over the time frame. To learn more about ERCOT & rotating outages, click here.
These are state-grid-mandated service interruptions as designed to protect the reliability of Texas’ power grid as a whole and prevent an uncontrolled system-wide outage.
KPUB is still responding to outages, 24/7. Please report outages through our KPUB SmartHub app or online as we are experiencing high call volumes on our outage line.
We are informed of the areas will be that are affected by the rolling outages, but not when and how long or when they will end. We understand this is frustrating, that these are extreme cold-weather situations, and we ask for your patience.
Service interruptions will occur throughout the KPUB service territory until ERCOT cancels the Level 3 emergency service interruption orders. This will happen when energy supplies can keep up with Texas’ demand.
Our customer service office will be closed again on Tuesday, February 16, to protect the safety of our customers and employees during the winter weather emergency. Please use our online SmartHub tool to pay your bill and view information about your utility service.
To help conserve energy in these harsh winter conditions, KPUB recommends that customers utilize the following energy-saving conservation tips:
- Setting your thermostat to 68 degrees or under.
- Avoiding using major appliances such as dryers during peak morning and evening hours.
- Closing shades and blinds to reduce heat leaving your home.
- Bundling up and utilizing clothing and blankets for additional warmth.
- Turning off unused lights and unplugging any nonessential equipment and appliances as they can still draw current, even when turned off.
KPUB also recommends that customers keep their cellphone devices fully charged during extreme weather events and be prepared with safety kits that include spare flashlights, batteries, candles and a battery-powered cellphone charging device.
Additional tips can be found on KPUB’s website at https://www.kpub.com/cold-weather-safety-tips/.
If a KPUB customer is experiencing an outage, they can report the outage 24/7 by:
- Contacting our outage line at 830.257.2883.
- Through SmartHub via the utility’s app or online account management.
- NEW! Or through text if they are a SmartHub user with a single account and up-to-date contact information by texting the word OUT to our SMS phone #768482.
KPUB’s outage map and additional outage tips and information can be found online at https://www.kpub.com/support/outages/.
KPUB will communicate to our customers when emergency service interruptions end.