TOMBALL, Texas – A planned power outage is set to impact parts of downtown Tomball on Wednesday, Dec. 17, affecting nearby streets, residents and businesses.
The outage was originally scheduled for Dec. 8 but was moved after additional coordination with the city and local stakeholders. CenterPoint Energy says the interruption, expected to last up to eight hours, is needed to complete system upgrades that must be finished before the end of the year.
Crews will be replacing poles, transformers and power lines in the 100 to 400 blocks of West Main Street. The work will affect properties one block north and two blocks south of Main Street, between Pine and Elm streets.
Several alleys along Commerce, Market and Fannin streets—also between Elm and Pine—will be closed during the work. Officials expect power to be restored and affected streets reopened by about 3 p.m.
Main Street (FM 2920) will remain open in both directions, though drivers should expect delays. North- and southbound streets off Main Street—including Oak, Cherry, Walnut and Elm streets between Commerce and Fannin—will be closed to both vehicle and pedestrian traffic. Traffic heading north or south from Main Street will be diverted at Pine Street.
Between 65 and 70 utility trucks will be working in the area. CenterPoint says crews will make every effort to restore power in less than eight hours.
The company says the upgrades are critical for long-term reliability.
In a statement, CenterPoint acknowledged the timing of the outage comes during a busy holiday season and said it understands the concerns raised by local businesses. The company said it has worked closely with Tomball, the mayor, Tomball ISD, and impacted residents and businesses since the project was first scheduled.
CenterPoint said the project involves upgrading the system from 12 kilovolts to 35 kilovolts, a change expected to improve reliability, resilience and capacity as the area continues to grow. While ongoing discussions led to moving the date from Dec. 8 to Dec. 17, the company said completing the work before year’s end is essential.
To limit disruptions, CenterPoint said it is doubling the number of crews on-site, selecting the least disruptive hours possible and completing advance preparations to shorten the outage.
The company added that, based on continued conversations, the city, residents and most businesses are aligned with moving forward and thanked the community for its cooperation as the work is completed.