Update 12:15 p.m.
A faulty insulator on a hydro pole at Ferry Avenue and Westwood Drive was the cause of a power outage that knocked electricity for 15,800 BC Hydro customers in Prince George Monday morning.
The five-hour transmission circuit failure hit at 3:28 a.m. and was widespread throughout the Foothills, North Nechako, Chief Lake and Hart areas of the city.
“It was a pretty significant area with a lot of BC Hydro customers,” said BC Hydro spokesperson Mike Kellett. “What happened is it was an insulator on the pole that was faulty and what we suspect is all the rain we had over the weekend exacerbated the situation and it caused a bit of an arc when it failed.”
A BC Hydro crew was already on the scene when the insulator failed and was able to get a bucket truck to allow repairs to begin soon after that.
Often, a failed insulator causes a fire which destroys the pole but in this case that did not happen and there was little damage to the pole, Kellett said.
Update 9:30 a.m.
Power has been restored to all Prince George customers.
Update 8:20 a.m.
Power has been restored to more than 9,000 Prince George customers north of the Nechako River but still remains out for more than 6,100 customers in the West Bowl area. B.C. Hydro is estimating power will be restored to those customers by 8:30 a.m.
Update 7:45 a.m.
B.C. Hydro is estimating power will be restored to 15,803 customers in Prince George currently without electricity at about 8:30 a.m. this morning.
Update 6 a.m.
B.C. Hydro is estimating power will be restored to 15,803 customers in Prince George currently without electricity at about 8 a.m. this morning.
5 a.m.
More than 15,000 B.C. Hydro customers in Prince George customers are without power this morning.
The power went out at 3:28 a.m. due to a “a transmission circuit failure,” according to the B.C. Hydro website.
The outage has affected Prince George residents living north of the Nechako River and most of the West Bowl area up to Peden Hill. The East Bowl area, including downtown Prince George, and College Heights appear unaffected.
B.C. Hydro reports that a crew is on site to address the issue but has provided no estimate on when the power will be restored.
