Lance Whitney
Updated on: October 8, 2024 5:57 pm GMT
Widespread Power Outages Across North America
As extreme weather conditions grip several regions, thousands of customers in Niagara County, Metro Vancouver, and Los Angeles County have faced significant power outages in recent days. These outages have been attributed to a combination of factors, including wildlife interference and unprecedented heat waves.
Niagara County Power Outages
On Saturday afternoon, numerous National Grid customers in Niagara County lost power as a weather-related outage affected the area. By 5 p.m. on September 7, more than 5,800 customers in Niagara Falls alone were experiencing power loss, significantly impacting daily activities.
Areas Affected
The outages spread across multiple neighborhoods, with specific reports indicating disruptions along:
- Main Street, extending north near the Whirlpool Bridge
- 11th and Lockport Streets alongside Highland Avenue
- Locations east of Devil’s Hole State Park
- Surroundings of Niagara University
- Hyde Park and Veterans’ Memorial Park
Emergency responders and utility officials have been working diligently to restore power. By 6 p.m. that evening, most outages had been addressed, highlighting the responsive measures undertaken by National Grid.
Metro Vancouver Bird Incident
In an unexpected incident, a single bird caused a substantial power outage in Metro Vancouver on Thursday, September 5. BC Hydro representatives confirmed that approximately 17,363 customers lost power due to the incident, which affected areas served by the Mainwaring substation in Vancouver and Burnaby.
Impact and Community Response
The outage lasted from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., with residents expressing frustration online. Comments ranged from humorous takes on the situation to concerns over uncomfortable living conditions due to heat. One user noted the hardships created by the outage, specially mentioning the inability to use fans or air conditioning in the heat.
BC Hydro spokesperson Mora Scott explained that while such outages caused by animals are relatively uncommon, they do occur. Incidents involving wildlife, particularly birds, squirrels, and other small animals, account for approximately 10 percent of power outages across the service region.
Past Incidents Involving Animals
Other animal-related outages have been reported in the past, including notable instances with:
- Beavers creating dam structures that inadvertently impacted power lines in Dawson Creek and Prince George.
- A bear climbing a cherry tree in Nakusp, causing branches to fall on electrical equipment.
Residents are reminded to report any outages by calling 1-800-BCHYDRO or checking the BC Hydro power outage map for updates.
Los Angeles County Heat Wave Outages
Meanwhile, Los Angeles County is grappling with significant power strains due to a record-setting heat wave. As temperatures soared over the past week, the electrical grid faced unprecedented demand.
Extent of Outages
As of Friday, September 6, the extreme heatwave resulted in over 16,500 outages across the city. Pasadena’s grid was strained to the point that city officials initiated rolling outages to conserve power while repairs were underway.
Major areas of concern included:
- San Fernando Valley, where temperatures consistently exceeded 100 degrees
- The neighborhoods surrounding the University of Southern California, which experienced the largest single outage affecting approximately 3,300 customers.
Utility Response
Officials from the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) are actively working to restore service. Even as statewide power supplies remain stable—thanks to cooler weather predicted in the coming days—thousands of residents were still without power as of Saturday evening.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass emphasized the urgency of the situation, tweeting about the efforts to restore power swiftly and safely. Despite the challenges, the California Independent System Operator (California ISO) confirmed that adequate power supply to meet heightened demands is anticipated.
Looking Ahead
As severe weather continues to impact power infrastructure across North America, residents are urged to stay informed about potential outages and to follow the advice of local utility companies. It remains crucial to prepare for unexpected cuts while authorities work to manage and maintain grid reliability during extreme conditions.
To get the latest updates and report power outages, people can check their local utility websites or call the hotlines set up by their power companies.
