Power Restored To San Juan Islands

Contributed Photo/OPALCO

By Hayley Day, San Juan Update

As of 7:40 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 13, OPALCO reported that power was being restored to all 20 islands in phases.

“Be prepared for some potential small outages as the system comes back up,” read the islands’ energy co-op Facebook page. “Be sure to thank a lineman!” 

Early Wednesday morning, San Juan Island, Lopez, Orcas, Shaw, Decatur and Blakely Islands lost power due to weather and “a mainland issue and system-wide,” reported OPALCO.

By 5 a.m., OPALCO reported that a “mainland source” needed to be repaired before power could be restored. At noon, the OPALCO Facebook page stated crews were still waiting for Puget Sound Energy to repair OPALCO’s line, and that all lines on the islands had been repaired.

Earlier that morning, OPALCO staff reported that crews in Anacortes and on Lopez Island were working to remove fallen trees from the power lines. 

About six hours later, the energy co-op’s Facebook page stated there were reports of over half a million without power in the region.

A half-hour later, OPLACO reported that crews were repairing damage to insulators on Shaw. Crews also patrolled lines for further damage and helped remove a tree in the line on Decatur Island. 

As of 5:45 p.m., OPALCO reported that Puget Sound Energy had more than 150,000 members out of power. 

For up-to-date information, visit www.facebook.com/orcaspower.

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