Transformer explosion causes blackout for thousands near Conroe, Texas
Nov 2017Published 10 Oct 2026Responsible editor: Chief Editor
Get the next one by email
Free alerts on grid infrastructure incidents in the United States, and an email when EIR-2211 is updated. No account needed; unsubscribe in one click.
Get a free sample brief Three complete verified records and the incidents-per-GW table, by email within a minute.
By signing up you agree to the privacy policy.
Companies named in this entry: Entergy
What happened
On 16 November 2017, a transformer exploded and caught fire near FM 1488 and Interstate 45 in Conroe, Texas, shortly after 2:30 p.m. Conroe and The Woodlands Fire Departments were sent to the fire. Entergy Texas initially reported about 1,500 customers without power. By 4:30 p.m. Entergy had reported that 3,211 customers were without power. Entergy's website gave an earliest estimated restoration time of 6 p.m. The source reports no other information about the cause, injuries or damage.
Contributing factors
Not reported.
Lessons learned
- Transformer failures can cause fires that bring in fire services, so operators should agree response arrangements with local fire departments for transformer fires near public roads.
- Customer outage counts can rise after the first report, so operators should update outage figures as feeders are checked.
- Publishing an earliest estimated restoration time helps customers and responders plan while repairs are under way.
More lessons on fire suppression and firefighting, outages, backup supply and restoration, from every incident on the register.
Source
Published 2026-10-10. Written from public reporting. Descriptive, not investigative. See the data accuracy disclaimer.
