FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: City of Delta Provides Update on Recent Power Outages
The City of Delta recognizes that the recent series of power outages has been frustrating for residents and businesses and would like to provide additional information about what occurred and the steps being taken to maintain a reliable electric system.
Although the outages occurred within a relatively short period of time, each was caused by a different, unrelated event. Based on staff's review, there is nothing to indicate a broader reliability issue with the City's municipal electric system. Below is a brief summary of the most recent outages:
June 7 - Major Wind Event: High winds caused trees to fall onto power lines in multiple locations throughout the City. Most of the affected trees were located on private property. Most customers had power restored within approximately two hours, with full restoration completed within four hours.
June 10 - Wildlife Contact: A squirrel bypassed a wildlife protector on a transformer, blowing a fuse and causing a power outage that affected the area, including the hospital. Power was restored within an hour.
June 14 - Equipment Failure: A failed high-voltage connector inside a transformer on Sunrise Drive caused scattered outages along Pioneer Road. Crews isolated the fault, restored power to most customers within two hours, and replaced the transformer to restore service to the remaining homes.
June 17 - Transformer Failures: Two transformers experienced isolated equipment failures. Neither transformer was at or near the end of its expected service life. These failures were likely the result of stresses placed on the electrical system during the earlier outage, exposing isolated weaknesses. Most customers had power restored within one to two hours, while repairs serving the Safeway area required additional time.
June 27 - Major Wind Event: Strong winds carried what appeared to be a piece of metal roof flashing into one of the City's transmission lines. Crews isolated the problem, inspected the line for additional damage, and restored power in approximately one hour.
The City's Municipal Light & Power Department is a small team that responds to outages while maintaining the electric system and completing ongoing infrastructure improvements. Their priority during every outage is restoring power safely and as quickly as possible. The City is currently replacing electrical recloser equipment throughout the system as part of its ongoing maintenance and infrastructure improvement program. While new equipment is being installed and tested, some normal system redundancy is temporarily unavailable. As a result, outages may affect a larger area than they otherwise would. This is a temporary condition that will improve once testing is complete.
One of the recent outages highlights the important role tree maintenance plays in electric system reliability. Trees growing into or falling onto power lines remain one of the leading causes of weather-related outages. The City maintains trees located within public rights-of-way and utility easements. Property owners are responsible for maintaining trees located on private property. Residents are encouraged to regularly inspect and trim trees that could pose a risk to utility lines.
The City appreciates the patience and understanding shown by residents and businesses during these recent outages. We also extend our sincere thanks to our Municipal Light & Power crews for their dedication, professionalism, and quick response. Their continued commitment to building, maintaining, and restoring our electric system helps ensure reliable service for our community, and we are grateful for their hard work and service.