Update: 1-hour West Seattle power outage over; 4,100+ homes/businesses affected

(TOPLINE: Power restored after a little more than one hour; ‘cable failure’ blamed)

11:01 PM: Thanks to everyone who’s been calling and texting – as of a few minutes ago, more than 4,100 homes/businesses have lost power in north West Seattle. Don’t know why yet. More to come.

11:08 PM: Just added screengrab from City Light map showing where the power’s out. Commenters and texters report something that resembles a possible transformer explosion preceding the loss of power.

City Light site guesstimates restoration by 2 am but remember – that’s just an estimate, could be sooner, could be later.

11:13 PM: Denny tweets that the apartment-rich zone along Avalon is affected:

11:24 PM: In fact, the SFD 911 log indicates a couple “elevator rescue” calls, on Avalon and Alki.

11:29 PM: City Light just tweeted for the first time, but no information beyond what we’ve already gotten from the outage map – “early estimate” of restoration ~2 am, no cause verified yet, not even with all these reports of an explosion preceding it.

11:43 PM: From City Light’s site, “what to do in case of an outage.” We’d add from experience – unplug major appliances unless you have great surge protectors; last outage, a computer we didn’t unplug was damaged when the power surged back on. One other point while we await updates – while the outage affects more than 4,100 “customers,” it affects many more people; a “customer” is an account, a home, a business, sometimes an entire multi-unit building.

12:04 AM: Multiple reports that the power’s back on.

12:12 AM: The map now shows everybody back on – so if you’re not, please call City Light, 206-684-3000. The only indication of its cause appeared on the map in the past 20 minutes or so – “equipment failure.” We might not be able to get further details until Monday.

12:18 AM: Scratch that; we do have a little more information from SCL via social media: “Cause was underground cable failure leading from substation.”

63 Replies to "Update: 1-hour West Seattle power outage over; 4,100+ homes/businesses affected"

  • Jerry December 13, 2014 (11:02 pm)

    We heard a loud explosion that shook our house here in Delridge but our power’s still on…

  • Cami December 13, 2014 (11:03 pm)

    Out at Alki. Knew where to go for info!

  • Troy December 13, 2014 (11:04 pm)

    I had the lights flicker twice, but no outage. I am by Luna Park Cafe. A friend on Alki said everything is out there.

  • Juneau December 13, 2014 (11:05 pm)

    We live right at Juneau and 26th near transformer and just were walking in from Xmas shopping – two large explosions and flashes of light – must be the cause. We have power though!

  • Kent Corleu December 13, 2014 (11:08 pm)

    5615 Sw Hanford St is out

  • Darcy December 13, 2014 (11:09 pm)

    Out in our neighborhood on 37th and Andover.

  • WS4life December 13, 2014 (11:10 pm)

    44th Ave. SW west side of street no power! Looking west to the top of genesee hill no sign of lights anywhere.

  • Roger December 13, 2014 (11:10 pm)

    Lights flickered in North Admiral on Victoria Ave SW, but still on.

  • Courtesy accounting December 13, 2014 (11:11 pm)

    Power Out On California 4411 U.S. west Generator Is on No power

  • Nancy Folsom December 13, 2014 (11:13 pm)

    Power is out Genesee & Delridge.

  • Valancy December 13, 2014 (11:13 pm)

    Ours went out about 15 minutes ago – 48th and Andover.

  • Samsmom December 13, 2014 (11:15 pm)

    We live on 26th just north of Hudson and we are powerless, though most of the houses on our block have power. Go figure.

    • WSB December 13, 2014 (11:18 pm)

      So odd that we went through big wind two nights ago and only a handful lost power, now it’s a calm (albeit foggy) night and boom. Just the way it goes. If anyone sees City Light in their ‘hood, let us know, no word on the location yet, no SFD incidents that seem likely to be related …

  • bsmomma December 13, 2014 (11:15 pm)

    My husband and I are watching a movie and heard the boom. We’re in North Admiral. Power’s On. :)

  • Lindsey December 13, 2014 (11:16 pm)

    Juneau – we must be next door neighbors. That was our exact assessment – two loud explosions with bright flashes of light that shook the house. Our power is still on too.

  • Betsy December 13, 2014 (11:16 pm)

    That’s right where the explosion and fire was last time power went out!

  • hopey December 13, 2014 (11:17 pm)

    South of the Junction we had two strong flickers — I swear I heard a “pop” with the first one — but did not lose power. I see we are just south of the affected area on the map.

  • Melinda Gale December 13, 2014 (11:18 pm)

    4600 block Hanford out. Across the street has lights though.

  • Lisa December 13, 2014 (11:21 pm)

    Out 4000 block of 34th – west side only

  • Joia December 13, 2014 (11:22 pm)

    Charlestown st across from cafe,out.

  • FreGirl December 13, 2014 (11:22 pm)

    California and Avalon. Power out our block and east but see lights West and South. Lights went out and then surged back on for a second and then out. Hope my computer didn’t fry with that surge!

  • Native Nancy December 13, 2014 (11:25 pm)

    Unplug computers and tvs, right?

    • WSB December 13, 2014 (11:27 pm)

      Native Nancy, unless you have excellent surge protection, I’d second that. Last outage that affected us here in Upper Fauntleroy, we didn’t do that, and the restoration of power damaged one of the computers in the house, somewhat expensively.

  • Paul December 13, 2014 (11:25 pm)

    We saw workers installing power lines all afternoon around 37th and Dakota. Coincidence?? We’ve lived in this area for over 20 years and have only experienced one outage. Today there are workers installing power lines and we lose power.

    • WSB December 13, 2014 (11:28 pm)

      Are you sure they were power lines and not fiber? CenturyLink was out today with fiber work (and almost every day recently). City Light has been doing a lot of pole replacements. Sounds like the explosion-type noise heard by many might be linked, just haven’t seen an SCL confirmation yet.

  • Avalon & Genesee December 13, 2014 (11:26 pm)

    Just heard another two loud bangs. It’s a little eerie how quiet it is on Avalon–there’s usually still quite a lot of car traffic this time of night on a weekend.

  • mark December 13, 2014 (11:26 pm)

    Out at Admiral and Lander but looks like the lights are on west of Schmitt park. Hey cami get ahold of me sometime!

  • Michael December 13, 2014 (11:29 pm)

    People in elevators at VUE on Avalon.

    • WSB December 13, 2014 (11:31 pm)

      Michael, thanks, that’s the call to 3261 Avalon.

  • Darcy December 13, 2014 (11:29 pm)

    I live on 37th between Dakota and Andover as well, Paul. I noticed those guys working on the power lines all day. We’ve never lost power in this neighborhood that I can remember. Not even in all the wind and lightning storms.

  • AlkiGirl December 13, 2014 (11:30 pm)

    The Swell is out but we’re still rocking

  • Amy December 13, 2014 (11:31 pm)

    36th & Fauntleroy-out

  • Paul December 13, 2014 (11:34 pm)

    Hard to say if it was fiber or power. The trucks had no company markings. The cable from the spools were wound with heavy metalic looking wire. We went out and asked what they were up to, we didn’t get a friendly reply and we left.

  • Avalon & Genesee December 13, 2014 (11:35 pm)

    Is it common for outages to have such a wonky footprint?

    • WSB December 13, 2014 (11:40 pm)

      Yes. The feeders are in different places and in some areas you might be on but your neighbor is off, or vice versa. Even in the big windstorm outage of 2006, some people got their power back days before neighbor(s).

  • Steve December 13, 2014 (11:37 pm)

    Alki no power

  • Lisa Davidson December 13, 2014 (11:47 pm)

    No markings on the trucks?? Please follow up with police and City Light with what you saw this afternoon!

    Admiral and 57th in the dark. Two explosions in this area after lights out. Conspiracy heebee jeebees anyone? Better check our ATM machines! Now they’re just ripping them out! We rarely ever have outages here. Straaaannngggeee

  • Juneau December 13, 2014 (11:48 pm)

    We live close to the substation on 26th just off Delridge and pretty certain a transformer or other related equipment blew in the substation. BIG boom and bright flash(s)!

  • Tina December 13, 2014 (11:54 pm)

    friendly reminder; if the light is out at an intersection it becomes a four way stop!

  • Westgirl December 13, 2014 (11:58 pm)

    Power on near the Junction but our cable is out…

  • todd martin December 14, 2014 (12:04 am)

    Not bothered at California and southwest Dawson….but I have lots of booze

  • Darcy December 14, 2014 (12:04 am)

    Power back on!!

  • Joia December 14, 2014 (12:04 am)

    and we are back on at Charlestown and California!

  • B December 14, 2014 (12:04 am)

    Power just was restored in 5400 admiral block

  • Jean December 14, 2014 (12:04 am)

    Power on now Admiral Way & 59th

  • AlkiGirl December 14, 2014 (12:05 am)

    And we are back on!

  • Amanda December 14, 2014 (12:05 am)

    Power is back on!!! 49th and Charlestown

  • West Seattle since 1979 December 14, 2014 (12:05 am)

    Power just came on near 36th & Genesee.

  • ScubaFrog December 14, 2014 (12:05 am)

    Power back on here at 2100 block of Alki (REALLY grateful for WSB and commenter coverage!).

    • WSB December 14, 2014 (12:08 am)

      Thanks, Scuba, we appreciate everyone’s updates too. And if nothing else, when the initial reports start coming in, it seems helpful to at least be able to let people know “no, it’s not just you/your block” … TR

  • Jessy Waylon December 14, 2014 (12:05 am)

    Power back on at 32oo sw avalon way

    • WSB December 14, 2014 (12:06 am)

      Thanks for the updates. If anybody is still out after a little while longer, be sure to let City Light know just in case they missed a pocket somewhere … that’s the advice we’ve heard.

  • River Ione December 14, 2014 (12:06 am)

    Power just came on on Avalon

  • s.young December 14, 2014 (12:07 am)

    We’ve only been here since April. Why is the power so flaky here? Besides the outages our lights flicker all the time. We’ve even had an electrician out twice to check it out and were told its “their end”.

    • WSB December 14, 2014 (12:09 am)

      SY – depending on where you are at, part of West Seattle is on an old low-capacity system. Some of it is finally being replaced, as we speak. Morgan Junction/Gatewood, by any chance? (Though that wasn’t the area involved tonight … for once.)- TR

  • WestSide45 December 14, 2014 (12:12 am)

    Just as the power went out the clouds and fog lifted. Perfect timing for the meteor shower. I went outside and saw about twenty in the hour the power was out. Also saw the Milky Way for the first time in West Seattle. Too bad the power returned.

    • WSB December 14, 2014 (12:20 am)

      Thanks, Amy – we do have an “about” page around here somewhere, though it needs to be updated.
      .
      WS45, you win the power outage. I envy some of the north West Seattle streets that don’t have streetlamps … we are somewhat over-illuminated at WSB HQ, being at the corner of two arterials, but sometimes if I hold my hands like blinders, I can see a few stars…

  • s.young December 14, 2014 (12:17 am)

    @WSB We are actually on the sliver of 46th that still has power. They did replace our transformer a couple months ago but unfortunately our flicker didn’t go away. I really don’t mind a good outage but the flicker is annoying!

  • Amy December 14, 2014 (12:18 am)

    Thank you WSB for your ongoing commitment to our community. I don’t know who you are but I appreciate you!

  • tonenotvolume December 14, 2014 (12:21 am)

    About the workers on poles around 36th and Andover; talked to one of them, said he was stringing fiber for CenturyLink.

  • LSD December 14, 2014 (12:23 am)

    Thank you to the WS blog for helpful and fast information – I was on the line with my parents checking here for updates and found this with the Seattle City Light website to be helpful. I am in the Gatewood area and I agree that our power does go out much more frequently in this area. Other areas in West Seattle that I have lived are much less prone to outage. I recommend LED battery-operated candles to have on hand, you can leave them on without worry or risk of fire at night. Those have been a great help to us when power is lost. Thanks to all for the info tonight!

  • RS December 14, 2014 (12:25 am)

    FWIW I chatted with the guys running the cables…it’s century link. Not sure what they’re up to but I hope it’s adding some competition for comcast. Anyway, it’s obviously not related as we know now.

    Going out to look for meteors…

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