Over 9,000 customers without power in Lower Mainland due to snowstorm

Heavy snowfall across the Lower Mainland is not only causing havoc on the roads and public transit services but also to the region’s electric grid.

As of 11:30 pm, BC Hydro says approximately 9,000 customers across the region are experiencing snowstorm-related power outages. Most of the outages are located within Burnaby and New Westminster where there are currently over 8,600 customers without electricity.

Image by: BC Hydro / Google Maps

A particularly major outage spanning areas in Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, and Pitt Meadows, affecting over 4,300 customers, was resolved earlier this evening.

The electric utility says over 20 crews will be working overnight to bring back power to affected areas as soon as possible. Outages have been occurring due to the weight of snow on wires and fallen branches and trees.

More snowfall is expected overnight, with 21 cms already recorded at Vancouver International Airport as of 10 pm.

More than 20 crews will continue to work through the night on outages throughout the Lower Mainland, including many smaller outages.

— BC Hydro (@bchydro) February 5, 2017