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UPDATE: BC Hydro restores power to 97% of customers impacted by the windstorm

(UPDATE: Jan. 14, 2021 @ 9:45 am): BC Hydro restores power to 97% of customers impacted by windstorm

BC Hydro crews have restored power to 220,000 of the customers impacted by the windstorm that hit Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands, the Lower Mainland and the Southern Interior.

Crews have been working around-the-clock to restore power, replacing hundreds of spans of power line and replacing dozens of power poles, transformers and cross-arms.

Crews will continue to work throughout the day and expect to have all remaining customers restored today.

(UPDATE: Jan 13, 2021 @ 11:30 am): BC Hydro crews continue to make good progress and have restored power to more than 142,000 customers of the 212,000 customers impacted by the windstorm on Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands, Lower Mainland and the Southern Interior.

This morning, BC Hydro said that strong winds last night left about 100,000 customers without power, but more outages were expected to occur.

Around 70,000 customers remain without power, as of the last update.

  • About 30,000 in the Lower Mainland primarily in Abbotsford and Chilliwack.
  • About 15,000 on Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands primarily in Victoria and Duncan.
  • About 25,000 in the Southern Interior primarily in Vernon.

There is extensive damage caused by branches and trees breaking and coming into contact with BC Hydro’s electrical infrastructure.

Planning through the night ensured all available BC Hydro crews and contractor crews have been mobilized. They will continue working around-the-clock to repair damaged power lines, poles and transformers to restore the power.

(Original Story: Jan. 13, 2021 @ 9:50 am)

Strong winds have left about 100,000 customers without power in the Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands and the Southern Interior this morning.

According to BC Hydro, the hardest hit areas are Abbotsford, Victoria and Vernon.

“As the storm is moving its way across the province, it's causing extensive damage to BC Hydro’s electrical system due to branches and trees breaking contacting its equipment,” said BC Hydro.

“More outages are expected as a result of the wind.”

All available resources will continue to work throughout the day to safely restore power.

BC Hydro is also receiving reports of downed power lines.

A downed power line is considered an emergency situation and members of the public should stay at least 10 metres back and call 911 immediately.



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