UPDATE: West Seattle power outage over, with 4,100+ customers out for about an hour

FIRST REPORT, 8:50 PM: It’s not yet on the City Light map, but there’s a power outage in eastern West Seattle. We’ve heard from Highland Park and High Point so far. More info to come.

8:52 PM: In the time it took us to type that, the map updated – more than 4,100 customers out.

8:57 PM: No word yet on the cause. Even if you didn’t lose power, you might have noticed a flicker about the time the outage started at 8:46 pm – we did, here on the Upper Fauntleroy/Gatewood line. (And thanks to everyone whose texts immediately afterward tipped us to the outage!)

9:06 PM: As you can see on the map (screengrab above), a pocket of South Park is out too. In case this lasts a while, City Light has some helpful advice toward the end of this page.

9:11 PM: The map now has a restoration guesstimate of 1:33 am – we call it that because even the utility acknowledges it’s something of a guess. Could be sooner, could be later.

9:31 PM: If you are out or have to go out, remember that when a stoplight’s out, it’s an all-way stop. For one, as mentioned by Harvey on Twitter, Delridge/Henderson is out.

9:35 PM: Some High Point residents report via comments and texts that they’re back on. Anywhere else?

9:40 PM: The map has updated, now showing 2,700+ customers still out, so the restoration reduced the original outage by about a third. (Adding the new map above.)

9:48 PM: The cause is now described on the map as “equipment failure.”

9:54 PM: More report via comments and texts that the power’s back. And SCL elaborates on the cause via Twitter, “Breaker tripped at substation.”

9:57 PM: Map shows that everyone’s back on, and SCL confirms. If yours is NOT, be sure to call 206-684-3000 and be sure they know.

45 Replies to "UPDATE: West Seattle power outage over, with 4,100+ customers out for about an hour"

  • Dcn November 21, 2017 (8:55 pm)

    Out at 28th and Thistle. 

  • Trickycoolj November 21, 2017 (8:56 pm)

    8 days since the last one. Starting to remind me of growing up in Graham and Yelm. At least SCL usually fixes things faster than PSE. 

    • Kersti Muul November 21, 2017 (9:03 pm)

      Different systems and more rural in those places; more trees and more time needed to get to outages.

      City light’s systems often run through alleys and roads where there’s zero vegetation….

      Restoration time depends on outage type

      • Trickycoolj November 21, 2017 (9:12 pm)

        There are underground lines in High Point but we’re supplied by lines strung through the trees on Highland Park Way and Sylvan Way. My bets are on downed tree or mud. 

  • nosugartonight November 21, 2017 (9:00 pm)

    😑 crap

    • H November 21, 2017 (9:08 pm)

      I second that.

  • Ron Dio November 21, 2017 (9:02 pm)

    Out at 31st and Thistle. 

  • mos November 21, 2017 (9:03 pm)

    Out at 25th & thistle

  • D November 21, 2017 (9:05 pm)

    What caused this past outage?  Last time it was windy and there was a loud boom. 

  • Theresa - Highland Park November 21, 2017 (9:08 pm)

    Oh man, how long is a fresh turkey good for in the fridge with no power? 

    • WSB November 21, 2017 (9:13 pm)

      Theresa – Here’s the official government line on refrigerator & power outages. DON’T OPEN THE FRIDGE, whatever you do. It’ll stay cool for about four hours. https://www.foodsafety.gov/blog/power_outages.html

    • Jethro Marx November 21, 2017 (9:18 pm)

      You’re ok for twenty-five, maybe thirty-five minutes. Less if it’s a heritage breed. Safest bet in these days of common power outages is to get a live bird and slaughter Thanksgiving morning. Then plan to cook it over a fire.

      • WSB November 21, 2017 (9:20 pm)

        Not terribly feasible advice here but if you were in the East Coast neighborhood where our son lives … turkeys are roaming the streets. Seriously. We’ve seen them in person. Haven’t visited at Thanksgiving so don’t know if they go into hiding.

  • Crowley November 21, 2017 (9:10 pm)

    Out on Sylvan way. Let’s hope for a quick resolution 

  • Soannoyed November 21, 2017 (9:13 pm)

    I agree with Trickycoolj. We just received our new home valuation and are shocked at the spike in property taxes. Can we get the service we all are paying for?

    • Herman's hermit November 22, 2017 (5:58 am)

      Your property taxes have absolutely nothing to do with the utilities, which are required to be self-supporting and contribute to the general fund. 

      Knowledge is power. 

  • West Coast Nomad November 21, 2017 (9:17 pm)

    Westwood is out—or more accurately, one side of the block is out and across the street—and a block up—has power. Go figure. 

  • RC November 21, 2017 (9:17 pm)

    We are out at 15th and Thistle. Someone in our Next Door group said there was a blown transformer, though I couldn’t say where.

    • WSB November 21, 2017 (9:22 pm)

      There are no Seattle Fire calls on 911 anywhere in the area so if that’s so, a fire did *not* follow. No wires-down reports either. Nor car crashes, which sometimes lead to outages if a pole was hit. So … if anyone sees City Light in their area, let us know – 206-293-6302. One person tells us via Twitter that they saw a crew in their area (Sunrise Heights) just BEFORE the power went out.

  • samantha November 21, 2017 (9:26 pm)

    Utility crews were blocking the delridge exit off the bridge then the power went out 15 min later,

  • Skatediva November 21, 2017 (9:31 pm)

    this power grid stuff sucks. Literally across the alley there is power. There is power on Trenton but not on Delridge Way. With all of the new construction along Delridge you have to wonder if the power grid maybe a bit overloaded. This city doesn’t understand  infrastructure so I would not be surprised to find out that there is an overload situation.

    • Trickycoolj November 21, 2017 (9:35 pm)

      Half of High Point is on a different grid. All the newer sections 2011+ are on this one that goes out all the time. 

  • Trickycoolj November 21, 2017 (9:32 pm)

    High Point just came on! Yay hot water to get ready for bed!

  • Julia November 21, 2017 (9:33 pm)

    We just got power back at 30th Ave SW and Myrtle.

  • Lhamerly November 21, 2017 (9:33 pm)

    Power is back in High Point, 30th and Myrtle.

  • David November 21, 2017 (9:34 pm)

    Power is restored in Sunrise Heights (32nd and Myrtle).

  • Amanda November 21, 2017 (9:35 pm)

    Power back here! A couple blocks from Home Depot!

  • West Coast Nomad November 21, 2017 (9:35 pm)

    Are you kidding? Did they cause the outage?

  • Mary E. OConnor November 21, 2017 (9:37 pm)

    Power back! 35th and Webster!

  • Rachel Van Ness November 21, 2017 (9:41 pm)

    My power was out and I was annoyed because I had visions of last week’s and I am packing to leave for the holidays tomorrow but it just came back on. I am relieved and hope it stays that way but I have my flashlight ready if it doesn’t. I think I might get a battery powered camping lamp after this latest outage.

  • Jon November 21, 2017 (9:45 pm)

    There is a power crew at 20th and Webster right now. Still dark here. Could be worse, could be raining too. Oh wait…… 

    • WSB November 21, 2017 (9:46 pm)

      Thanks for the location! The map has just listed the cause as “equipment failure.”

  • Dan Belisle November 21, 2017 (9:46 pm)

    SCL didn’t want to feed 4800 ppl turkey dinners. 

  • Amy November 21, 2017 (9:50 pm)

    31st and Kenyon is back on!

  • Mos November 21, 2017 (9:51 pm)

    Power back on 25th & thistle

  • Christina November 21, 2017 (9:51 pm)

    Thistle and Delridge restored. 

  • Theresa - Highland Park November 21, 2017 (9:51 pm)

    It’s back on in Highland Park at 15th and Holden!

  • morealex November 21, 2017 (9:52 pm)

    Power just back on Highland Park – at least where we are, 13th Ave SW b/n Elmgrove & Thistle.

  • Dcn November 21, 2017 (9:52 pm)

    Power’s back at 28th and Thistle. 

  • Ozzy Dio November 21, 2017 (9:55 pm)

    Power back on at 31st and Thistle. 

  • Christina November 21, 2017 (9:56 pm)

    Anyone care to comment on “tripped breaker at substation” or does that mean exactly what it sounds like? 

  • HMS November 21, 2017 (10:02 pm)

    What was the identified cause of last week’s outage?  

    The trend of outages in Highland Park near the 7-11/Seamart intersection is a bit alarming. We lost power 4 times last winter. 2x now. 

  • newnative November 21, 2017 (10:22 pm)

    We had quite a few long flickers but no outage at north admiral. 

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