Power outages interrupt downtown work day

John Hardesty, a spokesman for TXU Electric Delivery, said the power grid under Belknap and Taylor streets failed just after 7:30 a.m. March 13 and several nearby buildings either lost power or were asked to "power down."

The Worthington Hotel, Sundance Bank One and the Tarrant County Justice Center were among the buildings with limited electricity that afternoon.

The Tarrant County Sheriffs Department, meanwhile, had no power and was running off an emergency generator, said David Phillips, director of Tarrant County Facilities Management.

Hardesty said power was turned off or reduced so that crews could get underneath the street, find the problem and repair it.

"I think the most important thing is that all the customers have been fantastic in understanding and cooperating with us," Hardesty said. "We want to get it done quickly, but also safely."

Hardesty said he hoped that the problem would be resolved and power fully restored by this evening.