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UPDATE: Power outage affecting 2,400+ customers – mostly in Highland Park, South Park

February 26, 2019 11:43 am
|      64 COMMENTS
 |   Highland Park | Utilities | West Seattle news

11:43 AM: Thanks for the tips. This has just appeared on the Seattle City Light outage map – more than 2,400 customers affected by an outage in the Highland Park area. Meantime, SFD is responding to a call at 1st Avenue S. and Cloverdale described as possibly involving a transformer. Updates to come.

11:49 AM: Added the outage map – note that it also includes part of South Park. Meantime, per radio communication, SFD is still investigating the incident to which Engine 11 was dispatched.

12:05 PM: As noted in comments, and if you zoom in on the map, the outage includes Louisa Boren STEM K-8 and a small pocket around it.

12:38 PM: Also noted in comments, the main outage zone includes Highland Park Elementary. Meantime, SFD has closed out the aforementioned call. And SCL has estimated a restoration time of 3 pm – but as always, we caution that those are really just guesses and it could be much sooner – or much later.

12:59 PM: HP Elementary wants to be sure parents know that the phones aren’t working because of the outage. Still no word on its cause – if you see City Light crews in your vicinity, let us know (206-293-6302 is our hotline, text or voice).

1:47 PM: About 500 customers – including HP Elementary – have been restored, per the outage map. We’re still seeking info from SCL about the cause.

2:21 PM: Another ~400 are connected again.

3:55 PM: 1,500 customers still out after 4 hours. No new restoration estimate – nor cause – from SCL yet.

4:51 PM: As noted in comments, SCL has posted this update via Twitter: “Crews are still looking for the primary cause of these outages. It’s a process of visually inspecting overhead lines, so please bear with us as the work is done. New estimated time of restoration: 6 PM.”

5:03 PM: A slightly more detailed version of that update, via email from SCL spokesperson Julie Moore: “Crews are still investigating to determine the primary cause. They are working through what we call a step restoration – a process of visually inspecting overhead lines and restoring sections as they go along. The number of affected customers is now down to about 1,000.”

5:54 PM: 6+ hours after this outage began, City Light just tweeted, “Power has been restored to all but one customer affected by the West Seattle/Highland Park/South Park outage. Thank you for your patience, everyone!” (If you are still out, be sure to let SCL know – 206-684-3000.)

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64 Replies to "UPDATE: Power outage affecting 2,400+ customers - mostly in Highland Park, South Park"

  • Debbie February 26, 2019 (11:54 am)

    apparently Louisa K Boren is without power as well…but not showing on outage ma yet.

    • WSB February 26, 2019 (12:01 pm)

      If you look closely, that’s the small pocket on Delridge separated from the rest of it.

  • Kenny February 26, 2019 (12:02 pm)

    Any updates?

    • Really? February 26, 2019 (12:06 pm)

      13 minutes after the last update and you’re expecting more info Kenny?

  • James February 26, 2019 (12:09 pm)

    Not sure if related but my lights flickered around that time and CenturyLink is now down. I’m near westwood village.

    • on Delridge February 26, 2019 (1:39 pm)

      Lights flickered in Pigeon Point  too.  Looking at the weather outside, I assumed I imagined the flickers. I guess not.  I didn’t even bother to check WSB at the time cause it didn’t seem plausible…. 

    • Indu!ge Desserts February 26, 2019 (3:51 pm)

      My oven & lights dipp’d twice.  I’m at 35th & Henderson.  I was panicked for a bit.  Thanks for all the updates!

  • CH February 26, 2019 (12:14 pm)

    Yet another outage for this neighborhood. The reliability of the SCL is declining and outages are increasing.

  • Chris February 26, 2019 (12:18 pm)

    Highland Park Elementary is also without power

    • WSB February 26, 2019 (12:29 pm)

      They look to be right in the heart of the outage zone. Which also, looking at the map, just missed Sanislo.

  • Theresa - Highland Park February 26, 2019 (12:35 pm)

    I swear our power goes out more than anywhere else I’ve lived in the City. I hope it gets back on before we need to cook dinner tonight. 

    • Schmucko February 26, 2019 (1:04 pm)

      its ridiculous. like the wind picks up, cold temps, etc. and out goes the power. everyone should get discounted SCL bills. 

    • Brian February 26, 2019 (1:10 pm)

      I’ve lived in the area for 12 years and I can count on one hand the number of times my power has gone out. 

      • Mike A February 26, 2019 (1:27 pm)

        You must have a freakish amount of fingers.  This is the 4th outage in 2 months.

      • Andrea February 26, 2019 (1:33 pm)

        Me too, lived in HP since April of 2006 and agree with you.  I do not consider power outages in my neighborhood all that frequent.

  • Llysa February 26, 2019 (1:13 pm)

    Thanks for keeping us updated! It is SO appreciated

  • Chris February 26, 2019 (1:14 pm)

    Phones at Highland Park Elementary are also down.

    • WSB February 26, 2019 (1:19 pm)

      Yes, I added that above after getting a note from the school office. Hope the kids are taking it in stride. And let us know when the power comes back on – the map lags on that too and once an outage is over, there’s no online record of it … unless (at least in this area) we’ve covered it.

      • Patti February 26, 2019 (1:33 pm)

        HP Elementary has power.  Fingers crossed it stays

        • WSB February 26, 2019 (1:47 pm)

          Glad to hear it! The map shows about 500 customers have been restored.

          • Ashlee February 26, 2019 (3:05 pm)

            Still no power at STEM.

  • Chris February 26, 2019 (1:32 pm)

    Power just came back at Highland Park Elementary. Yay

  • lauren February 26, 2019 (1:34 pm)

    my power came back at 1:33pm!! hooray!!

  • David February 26, 2019 (1:44 pm)

    I’ve lived in the area for 13 years and can count on six hands the number of times my power has gone out. 

    • Kathy February 26, 2019 (2:04 pm)

      I agree. I’ve lived in Highland Park for over 20 years and the power goes out at least once or twice a year. The last few years it’s gone out even more frequently. It’s more than any place I ever lived and I grew up in West Seattle. The city needs to look into updating our infrastructure. We’re voting citizens too. 

    • Brian February 26, 2019 (7:15 pm)

      6 hands? Your glove budget must be outrageous. 

  • shannon February 26, 2019 (1:50 pm)

    thank you!! Shannon 

  • Theresa - Highland Park February 26, 2019 (1:53 pm)

    We’ve only been in HP since 2015, but it seems to go out at least 2 – 3 times per year. We lived in North Seattle and South Lake Union before this and I don’t remember our power going out in those neighborhoods at all. 

    • WSB February 26, 2019 (2:06 pm)

      Speaking anecdotally rather than from looking up past outages – Highland Park in particular has unique points of susceptibility, such as the lines that run along the Highland Park Way hill, where compromised trees are likely to fall into them. But there are multiple neighborhoods around West Seattle, all sides of the peninsula, where outages hit. We have more trees, and wind-exposed slopes – but it’s not always that – there are also the failing underground cables (some of which are being replaced right now in SW-esternmost WS) among other causes. – TR

  • ArrPg February 26, 2019 (2:05 pm)

    In the four months I’ve lived in West Seattle my power has gone out 5 TIMES. Absurd! Pretty clear where SCL’s priorities aren’t.

  • Kathy February 26, 2019 (2:12 pm)

    Don’t know if it’s a coincidence or not but there was a city light car parked on my street a couple hours before the outage began. I wondered if someone working in the area caused it. But I haven’t seen any other vehicles since. I’m kitty corner to Highland Park and our power is still out. 

  • Andrea February 26, 2019 (2:43 pm)

    I genuinely think it is interesting how folks living in the “same neighborhood” have such different experiences. 

    • Vanessa Eng February 26, 2019 (4:19 pm)

      I agree! We’ve lost power 3 times in the past 6 months (including today). During two of those outages, the houses across the alley (and all houses north of them) had power! I’m not sure what changes in the 25′ between their house and mine but it’s pretty fascinating! 

  • Joby February 26, 2019 (2:57 pm)

    Paying the property taxes of a high-end neighborhood to live in a third world country. Welcome to the Southend. 

    • beef February 26, 2019 (8:52 pm)

      What are you talking about? Your City Light bill pays for this not your property taxes.

  • CH February 26, 2019 (3:01 pm)

    Estimated time of repair: 3 pm. It’s 3 pm now and the map reads 1500 customer affected. Even though paying some very high power bills this Winter unfortunately can’t assume that SCL can keep the power on. The weather today is quite nice, so wind/snow/rain seem to be unlikely causes.

    • WSB February 26, 2019 (3:22 pm)

      As I always warn, the estimated times are often fairly useless. Sometimes it’s fixed a lot earlier (several recent outages fell into that category). Sometimes, lots later.

  • KatHP February 26, 2019 (3:11 pm)

    Power still out for our neighborhood east off of HP Way & Holden….bummer.

  • Steve February 26, 2019 (3:38 pm)

    Currently “No estimated time for service restoration.

  • SDHP February 26, 2019 (3:46 pm)

    Power still out for us but my next door neighbor and everyone across the street have power 

  • Kathy February 26, 2019 (3:58 pm)

    Been over 4 hours now. Food in fridge starts to spoil at 4 hrs according to their website. We aren’t even showing up on the news. If we were a “rich†neighborhood you bet we’d get attention. They could at least tell us the cause or pretend like they care…. 😒

    • WSB February 26, 2019 (4:27 pm)

      Yes, you are on “the news” – that’s what WSB is and has been for West Seattle for 11 years now. I also worked in regional news for many years and regardless of economics, if there’s not a larger storyline like a regionwide storm or bizarre cause, a power outage generally is not regional headline news. Maybe it should be, but it’s not. – TR

      • Kathy February 26, 2019 (4:44 pm)

        Please don’t get me wrong. I think WSB is great and if it wasn’t for you we’d have no info at all. I was referring to the other three local news stations. I can understand a power outage of a couple hours not making headlines. But if their “affluent†neighborhoods had outages of over 5 hours (and as frequently as we have them) the city council would be scrambling to “fix this injusticeâ€. We just refilled our fridges after the snow and now we’re watching our food spoil again. We can’t afford to keep refilling them. Not on our budgets. Again. Much gratitude to WSB. I just wish those outside our neighborhood would care. 

      • CH February 26, 2019 (5:08 pm)

        Thank you or the updates, WSBlog

    • K February 26, 2019 (4:27 pm)

      They seem to  have been updating folks on the Twitter feed, in case it helps. Sounds like there may not be a single cause. https://twitter.com/SEACityLight

      • WSB February 26, 2019 (4:51 pm)

        Their most recent update was posted while we were out looking for SCL crews (did not see any but we were only guessing): “Crews are still looking for the primary cause of these outages. It’s a process of visually inspecting overhead lines, so please bear with us as the work is done. New estimated time of restoration: 6 PM.”

  • J February 26, 2019 (4:11 pm)

    I’m on the 120 on delridge and traffic is so backed up and at a near standstill and we arent even close to the affected intersection. The light is out right near the police station. Does anyone know if there is an officer out there directing traffic?

    • on Delridge February 26, 2019 (7:39 pm)

      I’m surprised that WSB never mentioned the traffic problems cause by the outage, for the people that don’t scroll through and read all the comments.  According to google maps, my commute time would have doubled if I had taken my usual route home at 5pm, on Delridge. it was nice getting this info before hand thru the comments. thanks J

  • Melissa February 26, 2019 (4:15 pm)

    They are reporting 6 Pm for restoration of power 

  • J February 26, 2019 (4:17 pm)

    Well now I can see the intersection and confirm there is no officer out there. It’s frustrating considering it is right next to their precinct and traffic is backed up a mile (maybe more now). Hard to imagine there isnt at least someone available to help keep the rush hour traffic from backing up to the bridge 

    • Coffeedude February 26, 2019 (4:37 pm)

      When it comes to traffic patrol SPD gets an F in my opinion.  They could easily mitigate so many problems with an officer but they never do.

    • on Delridge February 26, 2019 (4:44 pm)

      sounds like a mess to avoid    

  • Julie February 26, 2019 (4:20 pm)

    Power still out at Dumar and SW Orchard, just down the street from Sansilo Elementary.

  • Melissa February 26, 2019 (4:25 pm)

    How many times has Highland Park been without power this year?  I think this is the 3rd time I have been without power. But I think some of my neighbors are on their fourth.

  • CH February 26, 2019 (4:37 pm)

    SCL seems to have the belief that if you aren’t charged for usage during an outage, repeated outages are a minor inconvenience. But lack of heat, refrigeration, phones, internet and traffic lights is a problem.

    • on Delridge February 26, 2019 (4:58 pm)

      What about businesses without power or people who work from home (without power) ? It’s not just lack of power for a fridge or the heater, but people lose money.

      • CH February 26, 2019 (5:07 pm)

        Agreed

  • WSB February 26, 2019 (5:22 pm)

    Since several have mentioned – all West Seattle power outages in the past year, in reverse chronological order, 27 of them, large and small:

    https://westseattleblog.com/2019/02/west-seattle-early-morning-power-outage/ (Coastal area)

    https://westseattleblog.com/2019/01/west-seattle-power-problems/ (South Alki, Pigeon Point)

    https://westseattleblog.com/2019/01/west-seattle-windstorm-aftermath-harbor-avenue-closure-other-city-light-updates/ (Various areas in January windstorm)

    https://westseattleblog.com/2018/12/west-seattle-windstorm-aftermath-new-and-continuing-outages-cleanup/

    https://westseattleblog.com/2018/12/west-seattle-weather-wind-arrives/
    (Multiple areas in December windstorm)

    https://westseattleblog.com/2018/12/west-seattle-power-outage-upper-alki/ (Upper Alki, early December)

    https://westseattleblog.com/2018/11/power-problems-in-west-seattle/ (2nd November outage related to Delridge Substation)

    https://westseattleblog.com/2018/11/power-flickered-youre-not-alone/ (1st November outage related to Delridge Substation)

    https://westseattleblog.com/2018/11/power-outage-west-seattle-ymca-closing-triangle-location-for-rest-of-the-day/ (mid-Nov. outage affecting West Seattle Y and immediate vicinity)

    https://westseattleblog.com/2018/11/west-seattle-power-outage-12-customers-in-highland-park/ (early Nov., small Highland Park outage)

    https://westseattleblog.com/2018/10/west-seattle-junction-power-outage/ (October, Jefferson Square area in The Junction)

    https://westseattleblog.com/2018/10/power-problem-at-west-seattle-stadium-means-tonights-odea-game-has-to-move/ (October, West Seattle Stadium and vicinity)

    https://westseattleblog.com/2018/10/power-outage-reported-in-west-seattle-junction/ (October, West Seattle Junction)

    https://westseattleblog.com/2018/09/power-outage-affecting-part-of-the-junction/ (September, West Seattle Junction)

    https://westseattleblog.com/2018/09/power-outage-in-west-seattle-3/ (September, Admiral/Alki)

    https://westseattleblog.com/2018/09/about-that-very-brief-west-seattle-power-outage/ (September blip in our area, Westwood, etc.)

    https://westseattleblog.com/2018/08/power-outage-in-alki-admiral/ (September, short outage in Alki/Admiral)

    https://westseattleblog.com/2018/08/west-seattle-power-outage-9/ (August, short but very widespread outage)

    https://westseattleblog.com/2018/07/west-seattle-power-outage-8/ (July, brief but widespread outage)

    https://westseattleblog.com/2018/07/west-seattle-power-outage-south-end-of-harbor-island/ (July, Harbor Island)

    https://westseattleblog.com/2018/07/west-seattle-power-outage-138-out-in-the-junction/ (July, The Junction)

    https://westseattleblog.com/2018/07/west-seattle-power-outage-184-out-along-16th-sw/ (July, Puget Ridge/Highland Park)

    https://westseattleblog.com/2018/06/powers-back-on-at-pathfinder-k-8/ (June, Pigeon Point)

    https://westseattleblog.com/2018/06/power-outage-on-west-charlestown-hill/ (June, Charlestown Hill)

    https://westseattleblog.com/2018/04/west-seattle-power-outage-100-customers-in-south-arbor-heights-arroyos/ (April, south Arbor Heights/Arroyos)

    https://westseattleblog.com/2018/03/brief-power-outage-anybody-else/ (March, brief but widespread outage)

    https://westseattleblog.com/2018/03/harbor-island-power-outage/ (March, Harbor Island)

  • Karen White February 26, 2019 (5:33 pm)

    Fourth Ave E and Michigan had no lights when we came through there about 4:50 PM., also First Ave S and Michigan.  Everything between there and High Point dark .

  • Melissa February 26, 2019 (5:38 pm)

    WSB/ thanks for posting the historical data on power outages in West Seattle 

  • zephyr February 26, 2019 (5:56 pm)

    Wow!  That’s a LOT of power outages.  They  need to look at that frequency. 

  • Findlay February 26, 2019 (6:04 pm)

    Seems that SCL has been failing this winter…

  • CH February 26, 2019 (7:45 pm)

    27 outages is worse than I expected. And they seem to be more frequent in the past 2-3 years. Does SCL provide records of outages? And does SCL trim branches? Trees appear to be grown over and around many power lines in this area.

  • newnative February 27, 2019 (9:58 am)

    But the record shows they are all in different places and some/many are very brief. I have only experienced one outage while awake at home, most are surges that reset my clocks. I lived several years near the Alaska Junction and the past 3 1/2 years in Admiral District. (accumulated 10 years in West Seattle) I know some of them up here have been due to crows. 

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