Residents of an Irving apartment complex that lost power last week will not have to spend their fifth night without air-conditioning.
Power was restored to the Finley Square Apartments in the 2400 block of Finley Road near Story Road on Monday night.
Residents had kept their windows open and slept on their balconies to cope with the power outage.
"People are sitting in the cars for like a couple of days, just wasting gas, you know, with the A/C on," Roxana Lembreno said.
Management provided a barbecue Monday with cold water for residents after many tenants were forced to throw away food that would have been stored in electric refrigerators.
"We're trying to do the best we can for our residents because they're our No. 1 priority, so hopefully we can get it going today," manager Loretta Chavez said.
In the past, Oncor Electric Delivery maintained a large power transformer on the property, she said. But when the transformer failed, Oncor told the complex Saturday that maintenance is the property owner's responsibility.
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"Parts are hard to order, to start out with," Chavez said. "That's what a couple of electricians have told us at this time, so we have four electricians out here working."
Oncor spokesman Kris Spears said the complex pays a lower delivery rate in return for accepting responsibility for the equipment on complex property.
However, he said Oncor recognizes that several days without power is uncomfortable in this weather, so the company is involved with a solution.
"Oncor is in constant contact with the contractor at the scene," he said.
Chavez said she arranged motel rooms for residents Monday as the problem dragged on.
Resident Vanessa Newby said she received two nights.
"The management is doing all they can do," she said. "Their hands are tied."
But resident Michael Green said he was not satisfied with the initial response.
Green said he has stayed away for days to protect the health of his 3-year-old child, saying that older residents of the complex are suffering.
"The needs just aren't being met," he said. "The bottom line is, they've contracted to provide a habitable place to live and it's not being provided."
