The outage was caused when a high-voltage insulated bushing failed during the evening rainstorm. This generated a small fire on the electric pole. (Photo courtesy of Scott Wagner, NSRAA Operations Manager)
All of Sitka experienced a brief power outage early Saturday morning (09-10-16).
Customers lost power at 2:28 AM on Saturday when an insulator failed at the Medvejie substation.
According to Utility Director Bryan Bertacchi, a high-voltage insulated bushing failed during the evening rainstorm. This generated a small fire on the electric pole and caused the transmission line to the fault to the ground. Bertacchi said failures of this kind are uncommon.
Electric department line crews worked through the storm to repair the insulator and power was fully restored at 3:58 AM. The fish at the Medvejie Hatchery – which is currently in the middle of chum spawning – were not harmed.
