Wyoming Power Outage Affects 95000 Customers Due to Tripped Power Lines
Approximately 95,000 customers in Wyoming experienced a significant power outage on Thursday, affecting over 10% of the state’s power consumers. The outage, which began around 12:45 p.m., was attributed to two tripped 500-kilovolt lines near Medicine Bow, Wyoming. This incident resulted in voltage instability that triggered outages across multiple communities.
Extent of the Power Outage
The outage’s impact was widespread, extending into parts of western South Dakota. Multiple utility providers were involved, including:
- Rocky Mountain Power
- Black Hills Energy
- Montana-Dakota Utilities
By 4:30 p.m., electricity had been restored to about half of the affected customers, as per PowerOutage.us. However, officials noted that power delivery could remain unstable.
Communities Affected
Several towns in Wyoming reported outages, including:
- Gillette
- Casper
- Douglas
- Newcastle
- Sheridan
Natrona County was particularly hard hit, with 56,776 customers reported without power around 2 p.m. by Rocky Mountain Power. Powder River Energy Corporation also reported outages affecting 26,544 customers in various counties.
Fire Incident at Dave Johnston Power Plant
Following the outages, a fire occurred at the Dave Johnston coal-fired power plant near Glenrock. Authorities clarified that the fire was a potential consequence of the power outage, not its cause. The fire was extinguished shortly after it started, with no emergency vehicles seen in the vicinity.
Local Responses and Safety Precautions
As the situation developed, several community services were disrupted. For instance, the Natrona County School District canceled all after-school activities. Residents were advised to:
- Treat downed power lines as live and hazardous.
- Conserve cell phone battery and limit calls.
- Use portable generators safely and outdoors.
- Check on neighbors, particularly vulnerable individuals.
Utility companies emphasized the importance of safety. They advised residents to avoid overloading circuits once power was restored.
This power outage incident serves as a reminder of the interconnectedness of the electrical grid and the potential for widespread disruptions. Local authorities and utility workers continue to monitor the situation closely as they work towards stabilizing power in the affected areas.
