Fergie's Tech Blog

Long Hot Summer: Rolling Power Blackouts Hit Central Texas

Not only did we set a record high temperature for today (100F at Austin Bergstrom Int'l. Airport), but it was also the highest temperature ever recorded for the month of April.

Via The Austin American Statesman:

Austin's power company is shutting off power to portions of the city today as part of a statewide series of rolling blackouts, Austin Energy spokesman Ed Clark said.

High demand for electricity because of the unseasonable heat — along with generating plants that aren't producing power because of planned maintenance — triggered the mandatory blackouts, which began in Austin about 4:20 p.m. and are being done in other cities as well, Clark said.

He said the blackouts will last about 10 minutes in each area before another part of town is shut down.

"We're just turning people off, trying not to keep them off too long," he said.

Austin Energy is asking that residents curtail their power use this afternon.

posted by Fergie @ 4/17/2006 04:14:00 PM