Image: BC Hydro / BC Hydro says a distribution crossarm has been broken and needs to be repaired, which will result in an estimated two-hour power outage for all of Hope, B.C. Thursday afternoon (Nov. 21).

By Mike Vanden Bosch

District of Hope

BC Hydro to shut off all power in Hope Thursday afternoon for repairs

Nov 21, 2024 | 11:43 AM

HOPE — BC Hydro says its utility crews will be required to undertake a power outage to all of Hope Thursday afternoon (Nov. 21) in order to complete emergency repairs to infrastructure damaged by the recent windstorm.

In a social media post, the Crown corporation says a distribution crossarm has been broken and needs to be repaired, as shown in the image accompanying this story.

The repair will require crews to complete a controlled outage by de-energizing the circuit affecting all of Hope. The outage is anticipated to occur from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. this afternoon.

BC Hydro says it has restored power to 90 per cent of customers who lost electricity this week when hurricane-force winds slammed into parts of the British Columbia coast, but forecasters say a new storm is on the way.

Winds from the so-called bomb cyclone weather system exceeded 100 km/h in some places Wednesday, with Environment Canada data showing remote Sartine Island off northern Vancouver Island hit by the most powerful gusts of the day, reaching 113 km/h.

Cannabis Taxes

BC Craft Farmers Co-Op want cannabis included in proposed Federal GST break

11m ago

Postal Strike

Canada Post says talks with postal workers' union show 'limited' progress this weekend

1h ago

Holiday parade

Chilliwack's Rotary Christmas Parade to roll out across downtown Saturday

3h ago

The power utility says that as of 6:30 a.m. Thursday, 290,000 of the 320,000 customers affected by outages had regained power.

That leaves 28,000 people without electricity, but BC Hydro says crews have been “working around the clock” since Tuesday night, replacing dozens of downed power lines, poles and other electrical equipment.

Environment Canada says strong winds are expected to continue today for inlets and valleys along the north and central coast.

The weather office also issued another special weather statement for Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast, saying another fall storm will bring high winds again on Friday .

It says windspeeds are expected to increase throughout the day before easing by Saturday, and the Environment Canada is again warning about possible power outages and travel delays.

There is also a wind warning for southern sections of Howe Sound including Bowen Island, with gusts of up to 90 km/h expected overnight, peaking Friday morning before easing in the afternoon.