Service consultant Marcus Williams presented the report for CenterPoint Energy, stating there are two overhead circuits that serve the Creekside Park area, as well as a number of substations, all of which allow for CenterPoint to transfer power quickly in the event of an outage.
However, the frequency of the outages has been a larger issue for residents than duration, he said. The majority of outages only lasted around one minute, according to Williams, and the longest outages, which occurred in November 2022, were mainly due to natural causes.
Outage dates and causes include:
Nov. 1: Fallen tree.
Nov. 11: Strong winds caused lines to touch and cause a surge.
Nov. 14: Lightning strike.
Nov. 15: CenterPoint was unable to identify a cause.
Jan. 9: Switch cabinet burned up.
According to Williams, a team was sent out to service the local substations and begin tree trimming along Kuykendahl Road. Tree trimming is the No. 1 priority at the moment, he said, since the majority of outage issues have been linked to trees falling and touching the power lines.
Township board Vice Chair Kyle Watson expressed concern as to why CenterPoint did not have a routine for tree trimming if it was a major problem. Williams informed the board that Kuykendahl and surrounding areas have been moved up to 90-day inspections in order to ensure the area does not fall behind in service.
Additional outages will occur while they are working as crews temporarily disconnect power in order to work safely, but residents will receive a two-week notice from CenterPoint before it occurs. Williams stated the work should be completed by the end of March.
