Crews from across the AEP Texas service territory worked together to restore power to approximately 26,000 customers after 80mph winds swept through the Abilene area on Sunday, July 5. Additional resources and crews from Corpus Christi, Laredo, Childress, Vernon and San Angelo were called to help with the efforts.

NIckie Plaisance, AEP Texas Distribution System Manager in Abilene, said this was one of the largest in his 34-year work history. More than 60 poles had to be replaced, and a transmission line was damaged from the storm’s hurricane-level winds. Tree trimming and vegetation management proved to be an additional challenge throughout the restoration process.

“Numerous line sections were broken and downed due to trees blowing into the lines and causing breakage in the line,” Plaisance said. “As the restoration progressed and smaller outage number tickets were worked, the tasks became more tedious.”

AEP crews restored power to all customers in the Abilene area that can receive service at 5 p.m. on Wednesday after the storm.