CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A major transmission line failure outside Corpus Christi has created the potential for a significant outage in the Rio Grande Valley if additional transmission failures or generation outages occur.

Gonzalo Sandoval, director of Transmission Services for AEP, said a 3.5 mile span of high voltage transmission line failed 19 miles south of Corpus Christi on Tuesday afternoon. Sandoval estimates that it will take from three to five days before repairs can be completed. The cause of the failure is under investigation by the company.

“Recent heavy rains will hamper access to the area, but we will work to get repairs made as quickly and safely as possible,” Sandoval said. “In the meantime, there is a potential for power outages in the Rio Grande Valley while this major transmission line is out of service. We will be monitoring the situation around the clock.”

Residents in the Valley and in the area near southwest Corpus Christi should be aware of this potential for an outage. However, no customers should lose power due to this situation unless additional transmission or generation outages occur.

The Electric Reliability Council of Texas reports that it is working with power generators in the Valley to make additional power available tomorrow and on following days if necessary.

AEP Texas will issue updates as new information becomes available.

AEP Texas, a unit of American Electric Power, delivers electricity to 900,000 homes, businesses and industries in south and west Texas. AEP Texas provides regulated energy delivery service to consumers, regardless of which Retail Electric Provider they choose. The region headquarters is in Corpus Christi.