CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – AEP Texas crews have begun restoring power in the Rio Grande Valley in the wake of Hurricane Emily. Currently, there are about 23,300 electric consumers without power.
            The following are outage numbers for the area cities as of 8:30 a.m. Wednesday:
Edinburg - 34
Harlingen – 9,560
McAllen – 2,347
Mission -- 171
Pharr – 3,795
Port Isabel/South Padre Island – 7,040
Rio Grande City -- 85
San Benito -- 261
                “Currently, it is still too early to estimate the full extent of the outages from the storm, especially since the storm still poses a threat,” said Harry Gordon, AEP Texas vice president of electric distribution.  “As we learn more about the extent of the outages, as well as our expectations on the time needed to restore service, we will be in communication with that information as quickly as possible.”
Gordon said additional personnel and equipment from other parts of AEP Texas were dispatched Tuesday to the Valley to help with the restoration effort. He said additional crews are on standby if necessary. 
·        To report a fallen power line or electric hazard, or to report an outage, call 1-866-223-8508.  All power lines should be considered energized and dangerous. Don’t touch anything in contact with the line such as trees, fences or puddles of water since they can conduct electricity. Because of the likelihood that the storm will cause many lines to fall, customers are asked to keep their children and pets inside.
·        Additionally, customers using portable generators are asked to follow hook-up instructions carefully. An incorrectly installed generator can feed into the electric system, causing a hazard to employees working on power lines.
·        Customers are asked to turn on their porch lights to help patrolling crews determined the areas that have power and areas that are still without power.
          Gordon thanked customers for their patience during this outage. He said the company’s main concern is the safety of the public and its employees. “We will work to restore power as quickly as possible as weather and safety conditions permit.”
          AEP Texas, a unit of American Electric Power, delivers electricity to some 850,000 homes, businesses and industries in south and west Texas. AEP Texas provides regulated energy delivery service to consumers, regardless of which Retail Electric Provider they choose. The company is headquartered in Corpus Christi.