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Wind and rain are expected Wednesday as an unseasonably strong weather system moves through the region. With trees and vegetation still fully leafed out, winds may bring branches and trees into power lines, potentially causing numerous outages.

We understand how difficult it is to be without power. We have brought in additional staffing and teams are ready to respond. Crews will remain in the field to assess damage and restore power as long as it is safe. If your power goes out, we'll work around the clock to restore it as quickly and safely as possible.

This storm may catch some people by surprise given the time of year. As we get ready, we encourage our customers to do the same:

  • Charge cell phones and other essential devices.
  • Make sure you have emergency supplies at home and in your vehicle, including flashlights, extra batteries, food, water and blankets.
  • Have a battery-powered radio ready to go.
  • Download the PSE mobile outage app to track and report outages or visit pse.com/outagemap.    
  • Find more preparedness tips at pse.com/storm.

alert 

Safety first:

  • Never touch or go within 35 feet of downed power lines because they might be energized.
  • Call PSE at 1-888-225-5773 or 911 to report problems.
  • If you’re using portable heaters, keep them away from furniture, draperies and other flammable materials.
  • Always use flashlights instead of candles.
  • Be aware of the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning: Never install or use a generator indoors or in enclosed or partially enclosed areas, even those that are ventilated.

Solar power

Though we see plenty of rain and clouds here in Western Washington, solar power promises a bright future for our region. In the past few years, more than 5,500 Puget Sound Energy customers have installed their own solar-energy systems. And the number of people going solar continues to grow.

It's not just our region's long and sunny summer days that suit the generation of solar-powered electricity. Solar panels can produce power (at lower levels) even under gray, wintery skies. 

Our customers not only are generating electricity to light their homes and businesses, but many earn net-metering bill credits from us when their solar systems produce more power than the customers are using.

To help demonstrate the viability of solar power in the Northwest, PSE built a 502 kW solar array in 2007 at our Wild Horse Wind and Solar Facility in Kittitas County.

PSE is currently developing the 142 MW Appaloosa Solar Project within the footprint of our existing Lower Snake River wind farm in Garfield County, WA. Construction is expected to begin in 2025 with commercial operation beginning in late 2026.

Fast facts about Wild Horse

  • Features 2,723 photovoltaic solar panels

  • Includes the first made-in-Washington solar panels—315 panels made by Silicon Energy in Arlington

  • Produces power even under cloudy skies—50 to 70 percent of peak output with bright overcast and 5 to 10 percent with dark overcast

Learn more
 

    How solar power works 

    Sunlight hits two layers of semiconductor material, producing a difference in electrical potential, or voltage, between the layers. The voltage then drives current through an external electrical circuit.



Solar