A recent power outage in downtown Celina has prompted Oncor to commit to major infrastructure upgrades after criticism from local officials, businesses and residents over repeated service disruptions.

City officials said that after the outage on Thursday, April 2, Oncor agreed to install more than 100 new power poles, replace about 400 crossarms, upgrade and extend power lines, and add new connections aimed at improving reliability in the area.

Second dispute between Celina and Oncor in 2026

The outage marks the second major point of tension between Celina and Oncor this year. In February, the utility faced backlash from residents over tree trimming that many viewed as excessive.

City leaders said they were informed early Thursday about the downtown outage. Although Oncor crews responded to restore electricity, the interruption temporarily shut down several businesses.

Schools and businesses affected by outage

The outage also disrupted operations in Celina ISD. Celina Early Childhood School and Lykins Elementary School both lost power, affecting the district’s schedule.

Local businesses reported significant losses and frustration following the latest outage. Several owners turned to social media to criticize what they described as unreliable electrical service in recent months. Toasted Walnut Table and Market said the April 2 outage was its 17th power interruption in the past 15 months.

According to a Facebook post from the business, the outage forced staff to discard several thousand dollars’ worth of refrigerated food.

Business owner describes financial and operational strain

In its post, Toasted Walnut said every outage creates lost revenue, wasted inventory and disruption for employees and customers, along with similar impacts on other small businesses nearby.

The business also said the food loss was especially painful because throwing it away conflicted with its values, but keeping potentially unsafe food would have posed a greater risk to public health.

City presses for state-level action

In a Facebook statement, the city said it had escalated the issue to the Public Utility Commission, contacted state senators and worked directly with Oncor’s corporate leadership to push for a response.

The city said those efforts led to Oncor’s commitment to significant infrastructure improvements in downtown Celina. Officials added that while the planned upgrades are a positive step, they do not erase the inconvenience and financial harm recent outages have caused.

Oncor to address community at April 8 meeting

City officials are urging residents and business owners to attend an upcoming Celina Economic Development Corporation meeting, where Oncor representatives are expected to share more details about the planned improvements.

The meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, April 8, from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at 112 N. Colorado St.