Celina small businesses crippled by recurring power outages

Downtown Celina’s small businesses are facing a crisis far beyond typical startup hurdles – a relentless string of power outages is crippling their operations and threatening their survival.

Ice cream shop suffers ‘meltdown’ as electricity vanishes

Ashley Chism, owner of Stella’s Ice Cream, a local favorite, described a situation that’s more than just inconvenient. ‘We’ve lost power nine times in the last six months,’ she stated. ‘As an ice cream shop, that’s everything. We make our ice cream fresh daily, and keeping it cold is paramount.’ The repeated interruptions have resulted in thousands of dollars in spoiled product, forcing costly remakes and eroding her profit margins.

Business owners report widespread disruptions

The problem isn’t isolated to Stella’s. Across the historic downtown square, Business owners are reporting similar, often more frequent, outages – some exceeding a dozen over the past year. Video footage captured by a nearby Business vividly depicts a darkened storefront during peak lunchtime, a stark reminder of the economic impact.

Oncor acknowledges, promises improvements

Oncor, the regional electricity provider, acknowledges the severity of the situation, releasing a statement that they are investing in ‘a multi-phase critical reliability improvement effort’ in Celina. This initiative includes installing new poles, upgrading equipment, and addressing vegetation management – all aimed at bolstering the local grid. However, Chism expressed skepticism, noting that her reimbursement claim for losses was denied, citing weather-related outages as ineligible. ‘It’s the uncertainty and lack of transparency that’s truly frustrating,’ she commented.

A summer season under threat

With summer rapidly approaching – Stella’s busiest season – Chism’s concerns are growing. ‘We’re getting ready to hit summer,’ she admitted, ‘and it’s hard. We’re going to do it, and we’re going to be optimistic, but the repeated outages are creating a significant hurdle.’ The ongoing instability threatens not just her Business, but the very fabric of Celina’s vibrant downtown core.