Houston’s prolonged power outages following Hurricane Beryl resulted in power crews being threatened, pelted with rocks and had guns pulled on them. Police escorts are necessary for some crews, but such is not the case for the 105 Oklahoma Gas and Electric workers helping CenterPoint Energy with power restoration.
The Associated Press reported the response of angry residents who haven’t had electrical power for more than a week prompted police to escort some workers and file charges in two cases. Houston authorities have also issued pleas for residents to leave the line workers alone.
“Linemen are our friends and are doing their job. Do not threaten them. I understand you’re angry and mad and frustrated, but let’s get through this together,” Mayor John Whitmire said during a news conference on Monday, reported the AP.
Contacted by OK Energy Today, OG&E responded by saying it’s not what its crews have encountered.
“OG&E line crews working on Hurricane Beryl power restoration have not experienced any security issues,” stated the company.
“The CenterPoint Energy customers our crews have encountered have been supportive and offered encouragement along with water and snacks to our crews. Our mutual assistance team travels with a variety of support personnel, including security personnel to ensure the safety of our crews and equipment.”
The storm initially left about 3 million people in Texas without electrical power and in recent days, the number has been down to about 300,000.
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