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We're closely monitoring this week’s weather forecast, which calls for stormy weather with widespread moderate to heavy rain and wind.

The National Weather Service has issued a Wind Advisory, Flood Warning, and Coastal Flood Advisory affecting different parts of our service area. Beyond the potential for power outages caused by high winds and saturated soil conditions, flooding and landslides may also impact our natural gas infrastructure.

We understand how difficult it is to be without power. Our teams are prepared to respond, and 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.

Visit PSE’s Alerts and Advisories page for information on our response efforts: pse.com/alerts.


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.

Report and track power outages online

Sedro #4 transmission line and substation upgrade

Phase B - Belfast transmission line

Phase C - Samish Lake to Alger transmission line

2019 project updates

  • Phase C is expected to begin construction in 2019. Prior to construction, vegetation and trees were trimmed in fall 2018.
  • Phase B construction is complete. (2018)

Project overview

To increase electric reliability for customers in Skagit and Whatcom counties, PSE is rebuilding and reconductoring approximately 25 miles of existing transmission and distribution lines between Bellingham and Sedro Woolley.

Currently, the local electric system is prone to power outages due to limited capacity and aging infrastructure. The existing poles and conductors (wires) were built in the early 1960s and need to be replaced. Rebuilding these transmission and distribution lines with new, higher capacity wire and replacing the poles will strengthen the current system and reduce the frequency of outages for our customers in the area.

This overall project is broken into five phases

All phases of this project include replacing the existing structures with new wood poles and new, higher capacity 115 kV transmission wire and also replacing distribution wire as needed.

  1. Phase A: between Alger and Belfast (4 miles). (completed 2017)
  2. Phase B: Prairie Rd near Belfast to the Norlum substation in Sedro Woolley (7.5 miles). (completed in 2018)
  3. Phase C: Samish Lake Park to Alger (6 miles).
  4. Phase D: Bellingham substation to Samish Lake Park (6 miles).
  5. Phase E: Norlum substation to Sedro Woolley substation (1.5 miles).

Contact us

We welcome your questions and comments! Please contact:
Bob Parker, Project Manager
1-888-404-8773
MajorProjects@pse.com

Learn more