GCPUD Press Release

Power Restored To Most Grant PUD Customers

December 18, 2006

EPHRATA - Sunday evening Grant County PUD line crews restored power to customers along Highway 281 and in the Crescent Bar area following the damage to power poles and lines during the windstorm early Friday morning. Crews continue to work to restore service to approximately 50 customers who remain out of power in the Quincy area. The rural area west of the city of Quincy and south of Highway 28 continues to be without power in some sections.

All Grant PUD customers who remain without power are encouraged to call Customer Service at 754-0500 or 1-800-422-3199 to report the outage. Some single rural homes and farms may be without power for a few days as complete pole and line replacements are needed in a few locations. Customers who have not had power restored to their homes should be careful about the use of alternative heating devices that have the potential of creating carbon monoxide, fire or other unsafe fumes.

The American Red Cross is available to help those needing shelter, food and overnight accommodations. Red Cross representatives may be contacted at 800.218.0493 or 509.663.3907.

Grant County PUD line crews, contractors and other PUD support staff worked through the weekend to repair damage to electrical equipment caused by winds in excess of 100 miles per hour that struck Grant County early Friday morning. Major electric system damage occurred in the west portion of the county surrounding the city of Quincy. In the Quincy area, at least 60 power poles were snapped off at the ground by high winds. Safe removal of poles and lines from roads and farm entrances was followed by restoration of high-voltage transmission lines needed to deliver power to substations in the Quincy area.

Grant County PUD cautions people to consider any downed power lines as energized and dangerous. Please report any downed power lines or damaged poles to Grant County PUD.

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Grant County Public Utility District is a Washington state municipal corporation that began electric service in 1942. Owned by the people it serves, Grant PUD generates and sells electricity to Grant County residents and millions of customers throughout Central Washington and the Pacific Northwest. The Priest Rapids Project, comprised of Priest Rapids and Wanapum Dams, produces nearly 2,000 megawatts of clean, renewable and reliable electricity – enough to supply a city the size of Seattle. A leader in science based technology; Grant PUD is committed to finding effective measures for the protection, mitigation and enhancement of salmon, steelhead and other natural and cultural resources.

Media Contact:
Dorothy Harris
(509) 793-1516 or (509)760-2541 / dharris@gcpud.org