UPDATE: Brace Point power outage

9:58 AM: Thanks to Jessica for the tip. 165 homes in the Brace Point area south of Fauntleroy are still out of power, after losing it in the middle of the night. We are checking with Seattle City Light about the cause. Xfinity service is also out in some if not all of the area, according to a tip from Nathan.

10:53 AM: SCL spokesperson Julie Moore tells WSB, “Crews are still investigating where the fault occurred. The neighborhood is fed through a underground residential distribution system, so crews are investigating each vault to see where the damage occurred and so they can identify the issue and make the repairs. This takes a bit more time than it does for an overhead system where it’s easier to pinpoint where damages occur along the power line or utility pole.”

12:14 PM: The SCL map now shows 337 customers out. (Thanks to Nathan for the alert on that.)

10:55 PM: Not fixed yet. Thanks to Hadlie for the photo (posted in comments) of SCL on scene. We’ll be following up again tomorrow.

10:56 WM: 12 hours later, still out – see comments for what neighbors are hearing.

12:13 PM FRIDAY: We’ve published a separate update.

27 Replies to "UPDATE: Brace Point power outage"

  • Resident May 21, 2020 (12:14 pm)

    The outage has now grown to over 300 homes and has a new estimated completion time of 3:30pm which keeps getting pushed out. So much for that food in the fridge! 

    • WSB May 21, 2020 (12:19 pm)

      Yes, I’ve just updated, thank you. That’s the same “estimated restoration” time as a couple hours ago but please keep in mind. that’s always a fairly useless guesstimate – could be sooner, could be later.

      • Resident May 21, 2020 (3:35 pm)

        Equipment fail: updated to 9:18pm

    • Vic May 21, 2020 (5:35 pm)

      Keep the fridge closed and it can keep cool up to 24 hours. Once our fridge died suddenly and we had to wait that long for a repairman and the food was fine. Fingers crossed that you don’t lose much.

  • Dhg May 21, 2020 (12:43 pm)

    Comcast is out: tv phones internet. Estimated 51-500 homes without service. 

  • ABC May 21, 2020 (12:43 pm)

    Our power is on but no internet from Comcast. I can’t log on for work and my kid had to skip online classes via Zoom. There were 3 huge yellow trucks fixing the poles outside & they just left.  Hoping for the best and power to come back soon!

    • DP May 21, 2020 (8:02 pm)

      They told me hopefully within 6 hours about 30 minutes ago. They need to dig up the street

  • In the neighborhood May 21, 2020 (3:43 pm)

    Now saying restoration by 9:18 pm.

  • LIz Planta May 21, 2020 (3:44 pm)

    Power is still out and cause has been identified as equipment failure.  ECD now 9:18 pm

  • Woody May 21, 2020 (4:03 pm)

    SCL website now says power to be restored at 9:30pm. Reason: faulty equipment.  Crews were at 47 SW and SW Roxbury around noon.  

  • Lisa S May 21, 2020 (8:11 pm)

    A backhoe just showed up on scene. What are chances this is done by 9:30???

    • WSB May 21, 2020 (8:36 pm)

      Really, honestly, the restoration estimates aren’t even worth paying attention to … even City Light has admitted that (I wish they would just not bother with them).

      • Sarah May 22, 2020 (7:21 am)

        It is now 7:20 and still no power. They continue to update and push the time back and back. Does anyone know what is actually the problem?  We are now at 20 hours without power. 

  • Hadlie May 21, 2020 (9:29 pm)

    Now estimate is 4:30 am. But lots of trucks in the ‘hood 

    • Kskjal May 22, 2020 (7:41 am)

      Estimate currently stuck on 6:43am… At 7:41 😐

  • Nathan Wolfe May 22, 2020 (3:04 am)

    Is it just me, or with the viaduct, 35th, the West Seattle Bridge closure, and now THIS. A whole community now out of power during a pandemic. Id like to think the Mayor and City Council look at West Seattle as a district that falls under their authority. But I certainly no longer feel that way. I honestly don’t see how West Seattle will last another year without property values plummeting. In 18 months, WS won’t even look the same. I give up, I’m moving to Portland.

    • MK May 22, 2020 (8:45 am)

      I feel you Nathan. There is only so much people can take. It’s hard to stay positive about Seattle. 

  • itnw May 22, 2020 (7:16 am)

    Over 24 hours still nothing😣

  • Resident May 22, 2020 (8:16 am)

    30 hours. Still no power. And now they are saying they are not providing any estimates because they have no idea when it will be back on. Super. 

  • Michelle May 22, 2020 (8:25 am)

    Still out down here…. trucks are on 47th working still. 

  • anon May 22, 2020 (10:12 am)

    power is still out

  • Jessica May 22, 2020 (10:19 am)

    I spoke with an SCL engineer around 8am today. He told me that, if this is the correct cable line needing repair, it should be functional by 12pm today. If not, they will need to dig out more line, and replace that. He also told me that this line is old, and has been assessed as recently as 3 years ago. It has been reinforced to help prevent breakages, and this makes it that much more difficult to dig out AND repair. Neighbors report work through most of the night, there are approximately 20 SCL and traffic control trucks. 

    • Diane May 22, 2020 (10:49 am)

      Jessica than you for the update!  It is really good to hear some info. The SCL site info is sparse. 

  • WSB May 22, 2020 (10:56 am)

    Thanks for all the updates – SCL’s media contact is following up for us too again this morning.

  • KP May 22, 2020 (11:19 am)

    Still no power or Comcast in the neighborhood. Crews worked through the night and continue work today. No updates on a restoration time from City Light. Last update estimated 6:43 am today. 

  • Down the block May 22, 2020 (12:09 pm)

    I live a couple of houses from where the crews have been working. They recently tested the fix (new line under SW 98th St. at Roxbury) and have found a new issue. We just heard that it might not be fixed until “tomorrow”!

  • WSB May 22, 2020 (12:13 pm)

    Since this story is more than 24 hours old, we’ve published a new followup with the latest on what SCL has told us:
    https://westseattleblog.com/2020/05/followup-why-powers-still-out-for-337-customers-in-brace-point-area-after-34-hours/

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