Power restored to more than 147000 customers impacted by ...

11:30 a.m. update

VANCOUVER: BC Hydro crews continue to make good progress restoring power to customers impacted by last night’s storm. More than 147,000 customers have been restored – or about 63 per cent of the more than 232,000 impacted.

As of 11:30 a.m., about 85,000 customers are without power. The vast majority – 81,000 – are in the Lower Mainland. The hardest hit areas are Surrey, Langley, Maple Ridge and Vancouver.

Drought-damaged trees and branches came down on electrical equipment during the windstorm causing significant damage. BC Hydro has all hands on deck responding to the storm – all available BC Hydro crews and contractor crews are working hard to restore power as quickly and safely as possible. Crews are busy replacing power lines, poles and other equipment to get the lights back on.

Crews will continue working around-the-clock until power is restored. BC Hydro is hoping to have the majority of customers restored by the end of the day.

BC Hydro wants to remind the public to always assume that downed or damaged power lines are live, even if they are not sparking or making any sound. Stay 10 metres back and call 911. BC Hydro crews will work with first responders to make the area safe.

We want to thank our customers for their patience, and we will continue to provide updated estimates for power restoration as they become available at bchydro.com/outages.

7 a.m. update

VANCOUVER: Strong winds and heavy rain left more than 170,000 BC Hydro customers in the Lower Mainland, Sunshine Coast, Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands without power at the peak of the storm last night. Crews were able to restore power to some customers overnight; however, as the strong winds continued, other areas were impacted. As of 7 a.m., there are currently 120,000 customer out.  

With the long, dry stretches over the summer, vegetation has been weakened by drought, making it more susceptible to wind. As a result, many dead and damaged tress and branches have come down causing them to come into contact with BC Hydro’s electrical equipment. Crews have and will continue to be busy repairing damaged power lines, poles and other equipment.

As of 7 a.m., there are 113,000 customers out in the Lower Mainland and Sunshine Coast and 7,400 customers out on Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands. The hardest hit areas are Surrey, Maple Ridge, Vancouver and Port Coquitlam.  

BC Hydro understands that outages are disruptive and thanks its customers for their patience. All available BC Hydro crews and contractor crews will continue to work around-the-clock until power is restored.

Crews are receiving reports of downed power lines. A downed power line is an emergency. Call 911 and stay at least 10 metres back. BC Hydro crews will work with first responders to make the area safe.

As repair work continues, BC Hydro will provide updated estimates for power restoration as they become available at bchydro.com/outages.