Update 2 4:30pm: BC Hydro has confirmed their repair work on their transmission circuit has been successfully completed and they are now in the process of switching the lines back on.
If you are on an RDEK Water System in the Columbia Valley, please continue to conserve water as much as possible into tomorrow to allow our reservoirs an opportunity to replenish.
Update: BC Hydro has restored power to some customers but others will still be without until more repairs are made.
BC Hydro officials said lightning struck a transmission structure overnight which broke a crossarm and damaged the transmission line that runs from Invermere to Cranbrook.
Some customers now have power because of a secondary line but there isn’t enough capacity to serve the entire area.
Residents are asked to temporarily conserve electricity so more people have access.
This includes reducing AC usage as well as larger appliances like dryers and ovens.
They are hoping to have power fully restored by 3:30 p.m.
Original: BC Hydro is working on restoring power to 9,130 customers in the Columbia Valley.
The outage is impacting Golden, Radium Hot Springs and Invermere.
Power started going out at different times between 5 and 8 a.m.
It was caused by multiple transmission circuit failures.
The RDEk is also urging residents to use water for essential purposes only as the outage affects the ability to refill the reservoirs.
Crews are onsite in each community, but there is no word yet on when power may be back on.
More information to come.
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