Excavator Strikes Power Lines Near Johnson Space Center, 1,300 Lose Power

An excavator operated by a third‑party contractor struck electric infrastructure near the Johnson Space Center, knocking out power to roughly 1,300 CenterPoint Energy customers and triggering a coordinated rescue and utility response, CenterPoint said. The strike occurred near the 17400 block of Saturn Lane in the Clear Lake area, behind Space Center Intermediate School and between Saturn Lane and Second Street, according to multiple local reports.

Houston Fire Department said the incident was reported around 7:40 a.m. Aerial footage from local news helicopters showed power lines wrapped around or lying on top of the excavator immediately after the strike. The operator remained inside the machine until crews could de‑energize the lines for safety; after power was shut off, emergency personnel removed the operator and he was taken to Clear Lake Regional for assessment. HFD did not provide additional details on injuries.

CenterPoint Energy crews worked on scene alongside Houston Fire Department and EMS to secure the area and restore service. “CenterPoint crews are onsite and working closely with first responders and emergency services to safely secure the area and restore power as safely and as quickly as possible,” the utility said. CenterPoint also issued safety guidance: “Safety is CenterPoint's top priority, and we urge customers, contractors and workers to be mindful when working around electric infrastructure and stay at least 10 feet away from power lines and at least 35 feet away from downed power lines or fallen wires. We appreciate the community's patience as we work to make the necessary repairs and restore power to those affected by this incident.”

Space Center Intermediate School canceled classes for the day and told parents not to drop off students; parents whose children were on campus were asked to pick them up. Local coverage captured firsthand reactions: a parent described hearing a “loud boom” and said staff moved students inside before parents were notified to collect them. One parent told reporters access to the campus was limited and that they walked roughly two miles to reach the school. A student reported seeing construction workers running and said she felt confused and nervous as emergency responders arrived.

Restoration progressed through the morning. ABC13 and KHOU reported that a majority of affected customers had power restored by about 9 a.m. By about 10 a.m., FOX 26 cited CenterPoint’s outage tracker showing roughly 30 customers remained without power near Johnson Space Center. Tracker estimates of final restoration times varied in snapshots reported by different outlets, ranging from about 12:15 p.m. to windows between 12:30 p.m. and 4 p.m.

CenterPoint attributed the outage to a “third‑party contractor not affiliated with CenterPoint” but outlets did not identify the contractor or provide an incident report number. No criminal charges or citations were reported in initial coverage, and Houston Fire Department and Clear Lake Regional released limited medical information due to privacy protocols. A NASA official, unnamed in coverage, emphasized the need for rapid, safe responses near space facilities: “We must respond quickly and safely to any emergencies near our critical space facilities.”

For Clear Lake residents, the episode underscores the local consequences of construction near overhead lines, from school disruptions to emergency rescues, and raises outstanding questions about permitting, locate procedures and contractor accountability near high‑value infrastructure. Local officials and CenterPoint are expected to provide updates as repairs conclude and any investigations progress.