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Oncor is planning a power outage for Argyle on Friday night

Oncor had installed an auto transformer for the city last year, but that equipment has "already reached its maximum capacity."

ARGYLE, Texas — A planned power outage is scheduled for Argyle residents on Friday night so Oncor can replace and upgrade equipment, officials said.

The outage is scheduled to start at 11 p.m. and last up to five hours. Oncor is planning to add two new transformers that will allow more electricity capacity for Argyle, a Denton County suburb that has seen rapid growth in recent years. 

Oncor had installed an auto transformer for the city last year, but that equipment has "already reached its maximum capacity," officials said. If the equipment fails, it would result in an 18-hour power outage.

"An electrical outage is never ideal," officials said in a release. "However, if the equipment fails it will result in an 18-hour power outage to repair and replace it. Oncor has agreed to complete this project in the middle of the night to provide the least disruption to households and take advantage of lower temperatures."

Argyle officials did not say how many residents would be impacted by the outage Friday night. But they said the residents who experienced a power outage on Aug. 3 would be the same residents who have the outage Friday night.

"It should be a good improvement for our community," said Argyle Public Works director Robert White who estimated the outage would impact approximately 1,200 Oncor customers.

Prior to Friday, Oncor had already installed the newer transformer, with a capacity of 9,000 KVA according to onsite engineers, supported by three telephone poles on the north side of Country Club Drive next to the older transformer.  At 11 p.m., Oncor workers are expected to cut power to the old to begin the process of connecting the newer system. Oncor predicts the work to last no more than five hours.

"By sunrise yes," White said. "So that people's AC's can kick back on, get their homes cooling back down. And hopefully have as little interruption as possible."

The interruption will also include several traffic lights on Highway 377. White says temporary stop signs and a police presence will take their place.

"It was a little scary not being prepared," said Rocio Briceño of the Aug. 3 overnight power outage that Oncor says involved the same transformer. The manager of the Gypsy Caravan, a gift shop and salon housed in the Historic Meadows Building on Highway 377 North, says she has watched Argyle's exponential growth and his pleased that Oncor and the Town of Argyle are taking action.

"We know this is a very positive move. It might be inconvenient for that time," she said of the overnight power outage. "We're willing to face the discomfort for what we know in the long run is going to be a good solution."

A solution as Argyle, and its electrical appetite, continue to grow.

The planned outage comes during North Texas' hottest stretch of the year. Thursday was the hottest day of 2023, and temperatures could reach as high as 110 in North Texas on Friday.

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