Thousands Lose Power as Ice Storm Hits Central Texas

Austin Energy customers left in the cold as winter storm batters the region

Apr. 11, 2026 at 6:08am

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A vast, frozen landscape painting in muted tones of gray, blue, and white, with a heavy, ominous sky overhead, conveying the overwhelming, sublime power of the winter storm that has left thousands without power in Central Texas.As a winter storm paralyzes the Texas power grid, the overwhelming scale of nature's fury leaves thousands in the dark.Austin Today

A winter storm has plunged Austin, Texas, into darkness, leaving thousands of residents shivering in the cold. Over 4,000 Austin Energy customers experienced a chilling afternoon as their power supply abruptly vanished. The outage map revealed a concerning scenario, with the situation far from resolved as icy conditions are expected to linger until Sunday.

Why it matters

This power outage coincides with an ice storm warning for Central Texas, where temperatures have dipped below freezing. The icy conditions can lead to tree damage and more power outages, posing a significant challenge for the region's infrastructure. The situation raises questions about the preparedness of Texas' power grid for extreme winter weather.

The details

The outage map revealed 4,078 customers affected at 1:58 p.m., which dropped to 2,005 by 2:07 p.m. Forecasters predict a quarter-inch ice accumulation, with the Hill Country potentially facing twice that amount. ERCOT has issued a Weather Watch from Saturday to Tuesday, acknowledging the potential strain on the power grid and the possibility of reduced reserves.

  • The outage was first reported at 1:58 p.m. on April 11, 2026.
  • By 2:07 p.m., the number of affected customers had dropped to 2,005.
  • The ice storm warning is expected to last until Sunday, April 13, 2026.

The players

Austin Energy

The electric utility company serving the city of Austin, Texas.

ERCOT

The Electric Reliability Council of Texas, the organization responsible for managing the state's power grid.

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What’s next

ERCOT has assured that it will utilize all resources to maintain grid reliability, but the situation remains delicate as the storm continues to batter the region.

The takeaway

This power outage highlights the ongoing challenges Texas faces in ensuring its power grid can withstand extreme winter weather events, raising concerns about the state's preparedness and the need for continued infrastructure improvements.