Report from Deep East Texas Electric at 11am on January 27, 2026:
11,162 outages are currently reported. Since the outage peak, crews have restored power to over 12,000 members. With today’s warmer weather and over 300 boots on the ground, we anticipate much progress today and the coming days. Additional crews have been secured today and are in route. The restoration goal date remains as Sunday, February 1st. As restoration progresses, we hope to provide better timelines for specific areas.
It is estimated that crews have replaced approximately 30 poles and 200 cross arms thus far and we assess that we have up to 150 poles and 400 cross arms that will need replacement. This damage is all due to heavy ice accumulation pulling lines down or the weight of trees falling on the lines. The majority of trees have fallen from outside of the right-of-ways. Maximum width allowed right-of-way easements are simply not sufficient for 100 foot tall or greater trees weighted down with ice.
Please do not panic if you do not see a crew assigned to your area on the outage map – we assure we are allocating crews to every area. Dispatchers are updating mapping as quickly and as accurately as possible. More impacted areas are not higher priority than less damaged areas. All areas are assessed equally; however, restoration does begin with restoring the areas where the greatest number of members can be restored and then work begins on individual meters remaining out.
- If you are without power, it is recommended that you rely on the automated system at 1-800-392-5986, mobile app, or online portal. For prompt service, please know the telephone number associated with your account and the meter number at the location. The meter number is the 6-digit number following DETEC on your meter or it can be located on your utility bill. If you absolutely must speak with a representative, our local Member Service Representatives are available 8 AM - 5 PM by calling 936-229-4000, option 2. Our third-party call center is available after hours by calling 1-800-392-5986. After hours, you may experience hold times as the call center takes calls for many cooperatives across the country, many who are experiencing outages as well.
- If you or someone in your household is dependent upon electric medical equipment, please establish an alternate location with power that you may retreat to if needed. In the event of a medical emergency, do not wait for electricity to resolve the emergency, call 911.
- To help with restoration, we ask that you turn off the breakers to your home’s unit heater, hot water heaters, and unplug any other heaters or appliance until power is restored. This act will reduce the instant large power load need when power is restored. Leave one light on to know when power is restored. When power is restored, wait 20-30 minutes and then power up your heaters and appliances in 10-minute intervals each to help the system balance the load back out.
- If you home has damage to your meter loop, contact an electrician to have repairs made so you will be ready to receive power safely when it is restored.
