
Utility crews faced a formidable task as they battled the aftermath of a fierce winter storm in East King County, leaving thousands in North Bend without power. The region was hit hard on Wednesday morning by a blast of winter weather, causing widespread outages. Puget Sound Energy (PSE) and Tanner Electric Cooperative, the two primary power companies serving the area, reported at least 4,800 customers left in the dark as of Thursday evening.
The outage maps indicated that trees on power lines were the main culprits behind the disruptions. An update from Tanner Electric Cooperative on Thursday morning highlighted the impact on all their members in North Bend and Kerriston, revealing that a fallen tree had knocked out the PSE transmission line feeding their power substation. Efforts were underway to restore the line, with PSE crews dispatched, though no estimated time for restoration was provided.
As crews worked tirelessly to repair the damaged infrastructure, residents experienced intermittent power restoration throughout the past two days. With more stormy weather forecasted, Tanner Electric Cooperative urged residents to prioritize safety and stay prepared for potential further interruptions. The challenges persisted further north, where Snohomish County PUD crews grappled with extreme ice and snow along Highway 2, affecting towns like Gold Bar and Monroe. The number of outages in this area hovered around 2,000 customers on Thursday, with no estimated time of restoration provided.
The stubborn cold air in the Puget Sound region, coupled with the forecast of another round of wintry weather, raised concerns of freezing rain and cold rain. The relentless winter conditions emphasized the importance of power transformers in maintaining a reliable electrical grid, as utility crews raced against the clock to restore power and ensure the well-being of the affected communities.
Source: komonews.com