Submitted by OPALCO

All of San Juan Island will be affected by a planned power outage necessary for the OPALCO crew to energize newly relocated transmission lines. This power outage will be during the night to minimize impact to OPALCO consumers.

The outage will begin at approximately 11:00 pm on Wednesday, March 26 and power is expected to be restored on March 27 no later than 5 am. During this time, OPALCO crews will do the necessary work to energize the new power lines on Pear Point Road.

San Juan County has a recovery strategy for protection of salmon populations which includes the Jackson Beach Restoration Project. As part of the plan, OPALCO is moving the transmission poles off Jackson Beach on San Juan Island. These critical high voltage transmission lines carry power to all of San Juan Island. Later this year, the poles will be removed from the beach.

OPALCO consumers should set a reminder for Wednesday night on March 26. Turn sensitive equipment off at the power strip or unplug. In the morning, turn equipment on gradually to aid in power load pick up. OPALCO members are responsible for their own equipment and encouraged to install surge protection to safeguard electronic, computer and other sensitive appliances.

OPALCO’s system is strong and its line crews skillful and ready – however, outages happen, and islanders must be prepared. Now is a great time to check your outage preparation including your kit of the things you need to keep you comfortable during power outages and test your battery or generator backup. Check our website for outage checklists and other key information for making sure you are ready at www.opalco.com/outage-preparation and safety.

Orcas Power & Light Cooperative (OPALCO) is our member-owned cooperative electric utility, serving more than 11,400 members on 20 islands in San Juan County. OPALCO provides electricity that is 97% greenhouse-gas free and is generated predominantly by hydroelectric plants. OPALCO was founded in 1937. Follow OPALCO @OrcasPower on Facebook and Twitter.