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Western Washington power outages: More than 50,000 lose power

By FOX 13 News Staff
Updated  November 15, 2023 3:40pm PST
Severe Weather
FOX 13 Seattle

Lowering emissions on the power grid

Washington Governor Jay Inslee's office says it's confident our state will generate 100% clean energy by 2045 - which is required by the Clean Energy Transformation Act from 2019.

More than 50,000 lost power on Wednesday, including a system-wide outage for Peninsula Light Co.

At least 34,400 customers of PenLight lost electricity around 11:00 a.m. Officials said dispatch was slowly restoring the system in sections.

At least 23,000 customers in Tacoma also lost power.

Tacoma Public Utilities said just before noon that power had been restored to all impacted customers. They said the interactive map was not yet reflecting the restoration.

TPU later said that crews were performing a required test of the transmission system which resulted in an unexpected  operation, causing the outage:

"Tacoma Power crews were performing required testing of our transmission system protecting the line between Cushman Power Plants and NE Tacoma. The testing resulted in a unexpected operation, causing equipment outside of the scope of the test to de-energize portions of our network.

"A thorough investigation will be undertaken to understand the root causes of this large power outage. We regret that so many Tacoma Power and Peninsula Light customers were impacted by this unexpected outage. We are thankful for our crews and system operators effectively restoring our customers within about 40 minutes of the start of the outage."

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How to prepare for a storm

According to Ready.gov, if there's a chance you could experience a power outage for an extended period of time, you should take an inventory of all devices that rely on electricity.

Plan to stock up on batteries and secure other power sources such as a portable charger or power bank. It's also recommended to have a flashlight for every person living in your home.

Speaking with your medical provider before the likelihood of a power outage is also recommended.

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Many medical devices rely on electricity. And medications, like insulin, need to be refrigerated. So, Ready.gov says to ask your doctor specific questions that pertain to any devices or medications you may need that are critical for life.

Another important topic to consider is food storage. Be sure to stock up on enough nonperishable food and water for every member of your household. And if the power goes out, keep your refrigerator and freezer closed for as long as possible.

Your refrigerator will keep food cold for about 4 hours, and a stocked freezer will keep foods frozen for up to 48 hours. 

The USDA recommends that you don't store food outside in the cold if your power goes out during the winter. Temperatures can vary, making food unsafe to eat. Wild animals can also carry diseases that can make you sick if you eat contaminated food.

Ready.gov advises people to install carbon monoxide detectors with a battery backup on every floor and don't under any circumstances use a generator indoors or near windows.

Don't use a gas stove or oven to heat your home, and be sure to disconnect all appliances when the power goes out. Power may return without notice, and that surge of electricity can cause damage to appliances or your home.

Who to call when your power goes out?

FOX Weather contributed to this report.

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