About the project

Austin Energy is working to make our electric system more reliable and resilient. We're taking a close look at our distribution lines—the wires that deliver electricity from power stations to homes and businesses.

After the severe winter storms in 2021 and 2023, and with wildfire risks on the rise, we brought specialized consultants to study more than 12,000 miles of distribution lines across our service area.

What Did the Study Look At?

The study compared two main options:

  • Burying overhead power lines underground
  • Strengthening (or “hardening”) overhead lines to better handle extreme weather

What Did We Learn?

Burying all overhead lines would cost around $50 billion and would have a significant environmental impact . Instead, the study recommended a more affordable and practical solution:
Improve the existing overhead system to make it stronger and more weather-resistant.

What’s the Goal?

We’re developing a Comprehensive Distribution Resiliency Plan to:

  • Reduce the number of power outages experienced by customers
  • Shorten the duration of outages when they do occur
  • Mitigate the risks associated with increasingly severe weather events

These efforts are part of our long-term commitment to building a more resilient and dependable electric system.

What’s Next?

We want to hear from you! Your input will help us:

  • Set priorities
  • Decide which areas to focus on first
  • Make sure the improvements reflect community needs

Building a more resilient system will take time—but your feedback will help guide the way.

How can I participate in the Virtual Open House?

Please take a moment to watch these short, recorded presentations. Afterward, we invite you to share your thoughts by completing the survey available on this page. 

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD A PDF OF THE PRESENTATION MATERIALS

Step 1: Watch each video to learn the issues and challenges.

These efforts are part of our long-term commitment to building a more resilient and dependable electric system. The first video provides more information about the comprehensive distribution resiliency planning effort and sets the stage for why we need your feedback.

The second video details the pros and cons of undergrounding power lines versus strengthening overhead lines and the key considerations of building a more resilient grid. These considerations include resiliency and reliability, time, cost, and environmental complexity.

The third video discusses Austin Energy’s proposed move to a more strategic approach for upgrading the grid. Afterward, we invite you to share your thoughts by completing the survey available on this page, which includes questions on the key considerations for building a more resilient grid.

Step 2: Please complete this short survey to help Austin Energy prioritize the right solutions for our community. 

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Did you experience a power outage during any recent major storms—such as the February 2021 or February 2023 winter storms, or the May 2025 microburst?

Select a response

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For how long did you lose power?

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How often do you lose power at home or work?

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Thinking about regular days or typical storms (not the major ones mentioned earlier), if your power goes out, how long does it usually take to come back on?

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Before today, how aware were you of Austin Energy's recent studies to develop a more resilient electric system through the Comprehensive Distribution Resiliency Plan?

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As Austin Energy develops the Comprehensive Distribution Resiliency Plan, they’re considering several factors, including:

Reliability – How consistently the system performs
Resilience – How quickly the system recovers after an outage
Environmental complexity – Challenges related to terrain, vegetation, and weather
Time to implement – How long improvements will take
Cost – Impact on customers and property owners

What other factors, if any, should be considered?

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Which two of the following are most important to you?
(Please select up to two)

Select a response

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Why are those selections most important to you?

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Austin Energy is focusing on strengthening overhead power lines because of environmental challenges, cost impacts, and proven effectiveness.
Do you agree with this approach?

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Austin Energy is changing its approach from working on one section of line and doing a complete end-to-end upgrade to a more strategic approach of targeting investments where they will have the greatest effect on grid performance and resiliency. The objective is to accelerate the impact and make a difference for as many circuits and customers as possible. Do you think this is the right approach?

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Are there any important factors you feel Austin Energy should consider as they develop the resiliency plan?

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Any additional comments?

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* Please share your contact information so we know what part of town you're in. Only your ZIP code is required.