Power outage affects thousands in south Rneo

Thousands of NV Energy customers in south Reno lost power Thursday as local temperatures climbed into the upper 90s.

NV Energy reported that 3,795 customers in the vicinity of South Virginia Street and the Mt. Rose Highway beginning around 3:35 p.m. Thursday afternoon. The cause remained under investigation, and there was no estimated time of restoration.

The National Weather Service reported west winds 10-15 mph in the affected area.

NV Energy customers can track the status of power outages at NVEnergy.com’s Outage Center. Power outages throughout Nevada and the continental United States can be tracked at data.rgj.com.

Downed power lines can be reported by calling 911 and by contacting NV Energy at 775-834-4100. NV Energy urges those seeing downed power lines not to touch them or drive over them.

The utility also recommends customers prepare for power outages by preparing kits with bottled water, ready-to-eat foods, blankets and first-aid kits. More tips for dealing with power outages can be found at nvenergy.com.

NV Energy reschedules planned power outages, cancels others due to heat

Earlier this week, NV Energy announced plans to reschedule or cancel multiple planned power outages in Reno due to a heat wave hitting the region.

“Our customers’ safety and well-being come first. Canceling or rescheduling outages during the hottest parts of the day helps ensure customers, particularly seniors, individuals with disabilities, those who work from home, and anyone relying on air conditioning, can continue to access electric service during this period of extreme heat,” NV Energy said in an email statement Tuesday afternoon.

The company said planned outages are necessary to safely complete repairs, perform maintenance and make system improvements. NV Energy said the repairs and outages that are rescheduled may be performed overnight or during other cooler periods when conditions allow.