TNMP Watching Gulf, Planning Outage Response

Texas City, Texas

Texas-New Mexico Power is preparing for the possibility of power outages as a result of a tropical storm that is expected to form in the Gulf of Mexico.

Line crews have additional equipment and materials available that would be used in the event that a large power outage-restoration effort is required. Additional crews from outside the area also have been placed on standby.

Impacts on TNMP's system and resulting power outages are extremely difficult to predict and will be determined by the track of the storm.

Safe Distances From Employees & Damaged Equipment

Crews will work as quickly as can be done safely to assess damage and restore power, whether the impact on our system is large or small. Customers are asked to keep their distance from crew members and their job sites.

"Many of our field employees have been through tropical storm and hurricane restoration quite a few times, so they know what to expect and what to do," TNMP President Neal Walker says.

"Their first priority will be public and crew safety. We ask that customers make a point of keeping their distance. That's for Covid-19 reasons, of course, but also because our work sites and equipment have dangers that are inherent to this work."

Possible Impacts on Customers

Lengthy power outages often can result from any tropical storm. Winds can damage equipment directly, along with broken and blowing tree limbs contacting wires and other equipment.

Flooding resulting from the storm also could impact service. For example:

  • employees potentially could be unable to reach and/or repair equipment.
  • power in areas with underground service may need to be turned off by us to ensure  public safety.

Important Tips for Customers

  • Prepare for the possibility that you could be without power for 24-48 hours or even for days.
  • If someone in your home is dependent upon powered medical equipment, confirm your backup plan right away.
  • Stock up on batteries and check flashlights in advance.
  • Stock up on bottled water and non-perishable food in advance; include a manual can opener.
  • Make a plan for your mobile phone, including to turn it on only periodically if power is out and getting a backup energy source (battery-operated devices or a car charger).

Portable Generator Safety Tips

  • Check the manufacturer's safety warnings in advance.
  • Set up and run well away from a home or business due to the risk of carbon monoxide being pulled in from outside.
  • Directly power only individual appliances and not your entire home or business.

More Safety Tips

  • Teach everyone in your home to stay far away from any downed power lines and equipment.
  • Downed lines may not be visible in flood waters.
  • Assume that every line is energized and deadly, even if power is out in the area.
  • Call 911 if there's an immediate threat to public safety, then call us at 888-866-7456.

How Power Restoration Is Prioritized

  • Highest priority for restoration are critical facilities, including hospitals, water-treatment plants and sewer lift stations.
  • Subsequent prioritization is a triage process based on the number of customers served by given facilities and the amount of time required to restore those facilities. Lines with large numbers of customers and shorter restoration estimates will be worked first.
  • Entire areas may be restored, but some customers within those areas still may be without power due to additional damage on a smaller, local scale. This scenario can be block-to-block or even house-to-house. Outages affecting very small numbers of customers each generally are worked toward the end.
  • Areas where trees and overhead lines are in close proximity often can take longer because of the time required to cut trees from the lines before damaged equipment can be repaired.
  • During storm-restoration work, our tree trimmers will leave the trimmed branches on customer property.

How Customers Can Get Information

If TNMP's system is impacted significantly, we plan to publish general, high-level updates about power restoration on a regional level after assessments have been completed.

  • We'll be unable to provide details about specific areas of a given city or neighborhood.
  • All estimates will be based on latest available damage assessments and are subject to change.

Estimates and updates will be provided via:

  • Our automated customer phone system: 888-866-7456
  • Twitter (@tnmp)
  • Facebook (@texasnewmexicopower)

Gulf Coast Communities Served by TNMP

  • Alvin
  • Angleton
  • Bailey's Prairie
  • Brazoria
  • Dickinson
  • Friendswood
  • Holiday Lakes
  • La Marque
  • League City
  • Old Ocean
  • Pearland (small portion of town)
  • Sweeny
  • Texas City
  • West Columbia
TNMP is a transmission and distribution service provider that delivers power to about 255,000 homes and businesses on behalf of retail electric providers in Texas. More information is available at tnmp.com/about-us.

Media Contact
Eric Paul