Oncor Power Outage? Hereās Whatās Happeningāand What You Can Do About It
If youāve landed on this page, chances are the lights just went outāor maybe they flickered, your Wi-Fi cut off, and youāre suddenly wondering: āIs this just me, or is something going on?ā If youāre in Texas and your electricity comes through Oncor, itās likely part of a broader outage affecting your area. Power outages happen. But knowing why they happen, what you can do while the power is down, and how to prepare for the next one can make all the difference. This guide breaks down everything you need to knowāclearly, calmly, and with practical steps to help you stay in control.
What Is Oncor and Why Does It Matter?
Oncor Electric Delivery isnāt the company that sends you a monthly electric billābut itās the one running the infrastructure that gets electricity to your home. Oncor functions as the backbone of Texasās power delivery systemāmanaging more than 143,000 miles of lines and supplying electricity to over 13 million people.
In cities like Dallas, Fort Worth, and many others, Oncor is the assigned Transmission and Distribution Utility (TDU) responsible for getting power to your home. And you canāt choose or switch from Oncorāitās determined by where you live.
When a power outage occurs, Oncor is responsible for fixing itāeven if your electricity provider is someone else, like TXU Energy, Reliant, or Direct Energy.
Still Confused? Here's a Simple Example:
Letās say you live in Dallas, and your home suddenly loses power.
Every month, you pay your electricity bill to TXU Energyātheyāre your Retail Electric Provider (REP).
But the company that actually delivers the electricity to your home, through the poles, wires, and meters, is Oncorāyour Transmission and Distribution Utility (TDU).
If thereās an outage, itās Oncorās job to fix it, not TXUās.
On the other hand, if you want to:
Change your electricity plan
Switch to a renewable energy option
Ask about billing or rates ā¦then youāll need to contact TXU Energy, not Oncor. This separation between who you pay and who maintains the infrastructure is unique to Texasā deregulated energy marketābut once you get the hang of it, it makes navigating outages much easier.
What Causes Oncor Power Outages?
1. Extreme Weather Events: The Top Culprit
Power outages in Texas can be caused by a variety of factorsāsome predictable, others less so. Here are the most common reasons the power might go out:
Unpredictable Texas weather may place immense stress on transmission and distribution lines:
Thunderstorms and high winds can topple trees or power poles, severing physical connections.
Lightning strikes often damage transformers or overload circuits, triggering shutdowns.
Ice stormsālike the infamous 2021 winter freezeācan freeze lines solid, snap branches onto wires, and immobilize entire regions.
Flash floods can submerge underground equipment or substations, forcing emergency shutdowns to prevent electrical hazards.
*Weather-related outages are hard to predict but usually affect large areas, often requiring multi-day repairs.
2. Grid Overload and Peak Demand Stress
With an independent electric grid managed by ERCOT (the Electric Reliability Council of Texas), Texas operates outside of the national power system. During extreme heatāespecially in July and Augustādemand can skyrocket as millions of homes rely on air conditioning. If demand approaches the gridās maximum capacity, ERCOT may issue load reduction orders, potentially triggering:
Rolling blackouts, where power is shut off to certain areas in timed intervals
Voltage reductions, causing lights to dim and appliances to underperform
*While these outages are intentional, theyāre still disruptive. Oncor implements ERCOTās instructions in real time, balancing demand and infrastructure limits to prevent widespread blackouts.
3. Vegetation and Tree Interference
Outages can happen even on clear, calm daysāwhen trees or plants near power lines move with the wind or grow into the lines over time:
Overhanging branches may brush up against energized lines, causing electrical shorts
Falling limbs during high winds are a frequent cause of single-home or block-level outages *Outages caused by vegetation are common in suburban neighborhoods and heavily wooded zones, especially during spring storms or dry, windy conditions.
4. Construction Damage and Vehicle Collisions
Digging projects and road construction for infrastructure works near power lines can sometimes result in:
Underground line strikes
Pole damage
Transformer damage from car accidents
*Although localized, these events can disrupt service for hours while crews work to isolate the damage and complete repairs.
5. Equipment Failures and Aging Infrastructure
Like any complex system, electrical infrastructure agesāand sometimes breaks.
Over time, transformers, switches, and underground cables degrade
Sudden equipment failure can trip protective systems, cutting power to prevent further damage
In newer communities, installation defects or overloads during expansion can lead to repeated outages
*While Oncorās grid-monitoring tools help speed up detection and response, some damage still needs on-site repairsāespecially in less accessible locations.
6. Planned Outages for Maintenance or Upgrades
Not all outages are emergencies. Sometimes, Oncor intentionally shuts down a portion of the grid to:
Upgrade substations or switching equipment
Replace aging transformers
Trim trees or clear debris from around high-voltage lines
*These planned outages are usually communicated in advance and scheduled during off-peak hours to minimize disruption. Still, they can catch some residents by surpriseāespecially if notices are missed or affected areas are broader than expected.
š”How to Check If Thereās an Outage in Your Area
If youāre in the dark, the first step is to confirm whether youāre part of a known outage. Thankfully, Oncor provides a live outage map where you can see real-time updates.
How to check:
Visit: stormcenter.oncor.com
Enter your ZIP code or address to see:
If youāre in an affected zone
How many customers are impacted
Estimated restoration time (if available)
How to report an outage:
Call Oncor: 888-313-4747 (Service 24/7)
Text āOUTā to 66267 (Quickly report to Oncor without calling. Phone number registered with Oncor required)
What You Can Do During a Power Outage
Once youāve confirmed the outage, hereās how to stay safe and minimize disruption:
1. Unplug sensitive electronics
Protect TVs, computers, and kitchen appliances from power surges when electricity is restored.
2. Preserve food and water
Keep fridge and freezer doors closed to maintain cold temperatures. A full fridge stays cold for about 4 hours; a full freezer for up to 48 hours.
Open doors as little as possible to keep the cold in.
Use ice or dry ice if the outage lasts longer.
Check food temps once power returns. If food has been above 40Ā°F (4.4Ā°C) for over 2 hours, or smells or looks offāthrow it out to stay safe.
3. Use flashlights, not candles
Candles may seem like a simple solution, but they pose a fire riskāespecially if the outage lasts overnight.
4. Stay cool (or warm)
In summer, close blinds to block sunlight and avoid exertion. In winter, layer clothing and insulate windows if possible.
5. Stay informed
In summer, close blinds to block sunlight and avoid exertion. In winter, layer clothing and insulate windows if possible.
Use your phoneāif chargedāto check updates from city websites, power providers, or weather apps. And you can also keep a battery-powered radio as a backup.
Planning Ahead: Backup Power That Makes Sense
If youāre experiencing your first Oncor outage, you may be treating it as a one-time inconvenience. But in Texas, outagesāwhether caused by a winter freeze or summer overloadāare becoming increasingly common.
Thatās where preparation pays off.
Gas generators have long been a common backup option during power outagesāthough not without drawbacks: theyāre noisy, emit fumes, require fuel storage, and canāt be used indoors.
A Smarter Alternative: Portable Battery Power
In contrast, battery-powered backup systems provide a cleaner, quieter alternativeāwith no fumes, less noise, and greater indoor flexibility. The EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3 is one such solutionāa next-generation portable power station built to keep your home running during blackouts. Without diving into a sales pitch, hereās what makes it worth mentioning:
Itās powerful enough to run major appliances like refrigerators, routers, lights, and even some HVAC(Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) systems.
Itās expandable, meaning you can add extra batteries or connect it to solar panels.
It charges fast from wall outlets, solar, or EV stationsāwhichever is most available.
Itās silent and safe for indoor use, unlike gas generators. If youāre looking to avoid the stress of future outagesāand want a solution thatās easy to manage and environmentally friendlyāthe DELTA Pro 3 is a system to consider.
When to Seek Help
Not every outage is just an inconvenience. Know when itās time to reach out for help:
Downed power lines: Stay far away and report immediately to Oncor or 911.
Medical devices affected: If your
CPAP(Continuous Positive Airway Pressure), oxygen machine, or other essential medical equipment goes offline, get to a powered location or emergency shelter.Extended outages: If the outage lasts more than a few hours, check your city or county website for shelter availability or cooling/warming centers.
Final Thoughts: Stay Ready, Not Reactive
An Oncor power outage can feel disruptive and uncertainābut with the right information and preparation, you can stay safe, comfortable, and even productive while you wait for power to return. Bookmark the outage map. Keep your emergency kit up to date. And if outages are becoming more than a rare occurrence in your area, consider investing in backup power that fits your lifestyle. The best time to prepare for the next outage? Before the lights go out again.