Report from Puget Sound Energy:

 

Restoration Efforts

Wednesday, 11-18-15

8 a.m. UPDATE

WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW

– At least 25 of our transmission lines need to be repaired. They are a priority since they provide electricity to tens of thousands of customers.

– Several of our smaller substations in more remote areas are currently offline.

– Our distribution system is also impacted. These are the power lines in neighborhoods serving homes and businesses.

– Helicopter patrols will begin this morning of our transmission corridors to assess damage.

HARDEST HIT AREAS

– KING COUNTY:

· We’re continuing to find new areas of damage, specifically in the northern part of the county.

· This is the region with the largest number of customers without power – about 54,000 are out in North King County.

· We’re expecting to make significant progress today.

– KITSAP COUNTY:

· Our damage assessors are finding additional areas of damage of varying degrees. Silverdale south to Port Orchard is particularly hard hit.

· Large number of customers without power – approximately 30,000.

– WHIDBEY ISLAND:

· There’s significant damage across the island, especially the southern section.

· We’re focusing on assessing the level of damage and repairs that are needed.

· With debris on roadways and downed trees, there are problems getting vehicles and equipment into places. This will increase how long it will take to restore certain neighborhoods. Our tree trimming crews are now working to clear roads and work areas.

RESTORING POWER

– As of 8 a.m., there are about 600 outage locations and roughly 100,000 customers without power. At the peak of the storm Tuesday night, 220,000 customers were without power.

 

– With so much widespread damage, some customers may be without power for days.

 

– Joining our servicemen and linemen out in the field are 32 additional crews from other areas to assist with restoration efforts.

 

– The storm impacted our transmission and distribution systems, including some of our substations. Crews worked through the night and, at this point, 8 of the 33 damaged transmission lines have been repaired and 24 of the 32 impacted substations have been re-energized.

 

– There’s a process to our restoration efforts. First, the damage must be assessed. Next, we prioritize the response and dispatch our crews. After restoring power to critical services (such as hospitals), we focus on repairs that restore power to the greatest number of customers as quickly as we can.

– It can be frustrating not to see crews working in neighborhoods. In most cases, crews are working on equipment that needs to be repaired before power can be restored to homes and businesses. Once those repairs are made (to transmission lines, circuits, substations, etc.), crews can move into individual neighborhoods and communities.

– We always emphasize Safety First. Stay clear of all downed power lines and stay clear of any debris in contact with power lines. Always assume a downed power line is energized and dangerous. Call PSE at 888-225-5773 or 911 to report them.

 

OUTAGE INFORMATION

 

– Report and track power outages:

o PSE.com/outagemap: online outage map

o MyPSE app: report and track outages

o PSE.com/reportoutage: sign in to report your outage or find out your outage status

 

o @PSETalk on Twitter or visit PSE on Facebook