PSE works to restore power to 24K+ residents after WA storms
Crews are working around the clock to restore electricity to thousands of Puget Sound Energy (PSE) customers after a bomb cyclone caused widespread outages on Tuesday night.
As of 3 p.m. on Sunday, PSE reported 571 active outages, leaving 24,294 customers without power.
"For customers needing support, please check with your local government or call 211 to find warming shelters and other resources." - Puget Sound Energy via X (Photo: PSE Thursday, Nov. 21)
PSE Saturday, Nov. 23 update
At around 10 a.m., PSE announced they had brought in more crews, about 150, to help restore power. Crews are still prioritizing schools, and will begin moving from neighborhood to neighborhood.
So far, 570,000 customers have had their power restored since Tuesday's bomb cyclone. All hospitals and 47 of 49 substations have been restored.
Additional crews that were brought in are wrapping up restorations in other areas in western Washington and will soon move in to provide support to King County residents.
Estimated restoration times have been pushed back:
- Saturday at 12pm PST
- Sunday at 6pm PST
- Monday at 10am PST
PSE Friday, Nov. 22 update
In Maple Valley, PSE set up its rarely used Community Response Trailer in a shopping center to offer residents a place to charge devices, warm up, and receive updates on restoration efforts.
"We understand people are frustrated—it’s day three without power," Melanie Coon, a spokesperson for PSE, said.
PSE says it has mobilized 143 crews with help from Oregon, Idaho, and Canada. So far, power has been restored to over 120,000 customers in the last 24 hours and 20 critical transmission lines that feed into substations have been repaired.
Additionally, 70 tree crews are working exclusively to clear downed debris, and over 1,000 support personnel from outside the utility were brought in to assist. Key priorities include restoring service to critical community infrastructure such as schools and hospitals.
A second windstorm is expected Friday, potentially causing additional outages. Prepare by securing outdoor items, assembling emergency kits and staying informed.
In a letter to its customers, PSE acknowledged the frustration felt by those without power and provided an update on their progress, which reads in part:
"To our customers without power: we know you are frustrated. The limited information we have been able to provide on-line, and the fact that you do not yet see our crews working in your neighborhood, is causing you to wonder what is happening.
This system was so strong that it was comparable to a hurricane and did unprecedented damage to our high-voltage transmission system – the poles and wires that carry electricity from where it is produced to the communities we serve. Without fixing those lines first, we cannot get power back into many neighborhoods. Much of this work takes place in hard to reach, remote parts of western Washington."
Here are some key bullet-point updates from PSE's full letter:
- 143 line crews are working around the clock, 3.5x more than usual
- Crews from WA, OR, ID and B.C. are assisting
- PSE has 70 tree-cutting crews working alongside line crews
- PSE is prioritizing critical community assets like schools and hospitals
- PSE is planning to have the majority of customers back online by Saturday afternoon
- 34 out of 49 substations have been restored
- Each substation serves about 5,000 customers each
- Overnight, power was restored to about 5,300 customers per hour
- 60 schools and 315,000 customers had power restored Thursday
An Puget Sound Energy worker repairs a power line after the bomb cyclone hit western Wash., on Nov. 21, 2024. (Puget Sound Energy)
PSE says they will have two info resource hubs for customers without electricity to get basic support, including cell phone charging stations, Wi-Fi, water, coffee and snacks.
Here are the info resource hubs open from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. on Friday:
- Maple Valley Fred Meyer located at Maple Valley Town Square
- 26520 Maple Valley Black Diamond Rd SE, Maple Valley
- Kent Fred Meyer
- 10201 SE 240th St, Kent
PSE staff will also be at two warming centers in Issaquah:
- Warming Shelter - Issaquah Senior Center
- 75 NE Creek Way, Issaquah, WA 98027
PSE is asking anyone who needs shelter or a warm place to stay to dial 211. That number will help people find nearby warming centers and community support.
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