Planned BC Hydro outage to affect nearly 1,000 customers

POUCE COUPE, B.C. — BC Hydro is planning a power outage which is expected to affect almost 1,000 customers in Pouce Coupe and several nearby communities this weekend.

According to BC Hydro’s outage list, the planned interruption is set for Sunday, February 15th, with power expected to be off beginning at 9:30 a.m. and restored by 12:30 p.m.

The utility’s list says 992 customers are expected to be affected by the outage.

In addition to Pouce Coupe, BC Hydro says parts of Dawson Creek, Fort St. John, Gundy, One Island Lake, Tomslake and Tupper will also be affected.

The utility says the outage is needed to allow crews to complete planned maintenance work on its equipment.

Affected customers will receive automated phone calls, emails or postcards ahead of the outages.

Planned outages may be postponed if weather conditions become extreme. The utility reviews scheduled outages during periods of very cold temperatures, usually -15 C or below, while factoring windchill in local forecasts.

If an outage is delayed, BC Hydro customers will be notified before the scheduled start time, and the outage will be removed from its online outage list, according to the utility’s community relations coordinator Bob Gammer.

More information on outage preparedness and safety is available on BC Hydro’s website.