A MapleLine Magazine summary report      |         Last update: January 12, 2011

LISTED in descending order by date

 Wed. Jan.12, 2011. Within 7 minutes last night (11:48 to 11:57 pm, Jan.11, 2011) four Sooke-area power outages were reported to BC Hydro. The estimated power restoration time for the affected 880 customers is 8 am this morning. The affected areas are: west of Helgesen Rd (625 customers); 2500 block of Brule Rd, 2400 block Brule Dr (10 customers); 2600 block Sooke River Rd (26 customers); and north of Phillips Road (219 customers).

 Sat. Dec.18, 2010. As of 7:08 am, 2,515 customers of BC Hydro are without power in the area west of Goodridge Road, north of West Coast Road. Cause is officially 'under investigation' (per the BC Hydro website) but high winds are likely the cause. Estimated time for restored power is 11:30 am (as posted at 8:34 am).

 Tues. Dec.14, 2010. As of 12:15 am, 880 customers of BC Hydro are without power in the Metchosin/Sooke area (South of Sooke Road, East of Possession Point). Cause is under investigation. Estimated time on is 4:00 am.

 Fri. Nov.26, 2010. As of 7:39 am this morning, 58 businesses lost power in the Sooke town centre area along West Coast Road and Sooke Road; some residential customers are also affected. Power-on time is estimated by BC Hydro as 11 am today. The cause is listed as 'under investigation', as there is no wind, no snowfall, and above-zero temperatures. The affected area is specifically listed as: North of Gatewood Rd., East of West Coast Road, south of Sooke Rd., and West of Felton Lane. The power was back on at 11:35 am, with reason for the outage given as 'birds contacting the wires'.

 Mon. Nov.22, 2010. As of 1 pm, there are no reported power outages in the Sooke area.

 Fri. Nov.19, 2010. There was the slightest bit of snow tonight in Sooke. No reported power outages.

 Tues. Nov.16, 2010. The 2700-block of Otter Point Road has been without power since 7:55 am this morning due to last night's wind storm and continuing winds today; estimated time back on as 2 pm.

 Mon. Nov.15, 2010. A very windy evening in Sooke has led to a number of power outages in the area (approximately 1,325 customers affected). The wind storm and downed trees were the causes listed for outages this evening.

Affecting 69 customers: South of Harbour View Road, West of Goodridge Road, East of Pandion Place, North of Sooke Road (4:19 pm to estimated on time 11:30 pm).

Affecting all the following areas, with ON time estimated as 10 am on Tues. Nov.16:

• Affecting less than 5 customers: 6000 block Meota Drive
• Affecting 107 customers: 5800 block Blythwood Road
• Affecting 253 customers: North of Phillips Road
• Affecting less than 5 customers: 3000 block Mazer Road
• Affecting less than 5 customers: 5600 block of Woodlands Road
• Affecting 337 customers: north-south of Sooke Road, east of George Lane
• Affecting 545 customers: west of Helgesen Road

 Sat. Sept.18, 2010. In the middle of a busy retail Saturday, September 18 in Sooke, customers poured out of stores and drivers cooperated at intersections as a power outage that started at 4:47 pm and ending up lasting until 7:14 pm. The warm seasonal weather and daylight hours meant that most households likely did not endure undue distress, but most retail stores (concerned about security and not having functional POS systems) closed shortly after the outage began. The BC Hydro website reports that a bird contacted their wires, causing the outage.  BC Hydro reported that 2,827 customers in the Sooke area were affected by the 2.5-hour outage.  MM

 Sun. Sept.5, 2010. On the Labour Day long weekend 542 BC Hydro customers west of Gillespie Road and east of Dufour Road were without power for 2 hours and 47 minutes (12:39 to 3:26 pm) due to trees falling down across BC Hydro wires.  MM

TIPS and INFO

For all current outage information on the BC Hydro website, go to:  www.bchydro.com/outages/orsTableView.jsp

Cell Phone use during a power outage: With web-enabled cell phone you can get an give instant information no matter where you are.  Call BC Hydro at 1-888-769-3766, *HYDRO (*49376) on your cell phone or report online.

Turn off all appliances during an outage (including computers and peripherals) especially those that generate heat. This helps prevent hazards or damage when electrical service is restored.

Tips from BC Hydro: Prepare for an outage | Outage Info on your Mobile