Residents and businesses across Galveston are without power as the state responds to an energy crisis. At this time, we estimate 90-95 percent of Galveston residents are without power.
The City Manager has been in communication with CenterPoint Energy and we are providing an update with the information we have available:
At approximately 1:30 a.m., ERCOT made the decision to reduce the draw on the power grid across the state of Texas due to a loss in power generation. At that time, approximately 50 percent of the households in Galveston had their power turned off. It was intended to be a rolling black out lasting an hour. As time went on, however, the demand to the system did not decrease enough to restore power.
At 8 a.m., ERCOT turned off power to most households in Galveston. This is in response to a statewide power shortage and not a local infrastructure issue. According to CenterPoint Energy, local power infrastructure has not been damaged.
CenterPoint has told the city power COULD be restored by tonight.
Galveston Mayor Craig Brown has declared a local emergency state of disaster and the city has requested help from the state responding to our needs. The City of Galveston is working with local nursing homes to ensure residents will be in heated areas.
As a result of the City’s efforts to harden infrastructure after Hurricane Ike, 100 percent of the city’s utility infrastructure is operational. This includes water, sewer and all emergency response centers (police and fire stations
Please continue checking on elderly and vulnerable neighbors and loved ones and call 9-1-1 in the event of an emergency.
The City of Galveston’s municipal utilities department is also continuing to assist turning off water at vacant properties. If your property is vacant and needs the water turned off, please contact 409-797-3971 for assistance.