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Wear from an aviation marker during Sunday’s windstorm may have brought down a 69,000-volt transmission line where it crosses Gastineau Channel.
Alaska Electric Light & Power expects to finish repairs and re-energize the line by noon on today, AEL&P spokeswoman Debbie Ferreira said.
The utility sent crews out Sunday night in response to a power outage at the West Juneau and Capital Avenue substations. The substations serve approximately 3,800 customers on Douglas Island and “the Flats” in downtown Juneau.
The crew could not fix the line right away and instead rerouted power through a smaller 12.5-kilovolt distribution line, Ferreria said. Power was restored in about two hours. AEL&P did not have to run diesel backup.
“We are currently carrying all load with our hydro resources,” she said.
Douglas businesses and public facilities were not affected by the lower voltage line.
“This is a lower voltage line and is not ideal as a long term solution, however it is sufficient to manage loads as the crew work to repair the transmission line,” Ferreira wrote in an email Monday afternoon.
The crew found the large transmission line had parted on the Juneau side of the channel and dropped into the water. It is one of three conductors that cross the channel on metal towers. The broken line was not electrified as a circuit will open immediately and shut off power when a break is detected, Ferreria said.
Crews spent Monday dragging the line out of the channel and laying it out to straighten.
“The line comes on spools, so it wants to curl,” Ferreira said.
The crew will pull the line across the channel to town side and splice the ends.
• Contact reporter Russell Stigall at 523-2276 or at russell.stigall@juneauempire.com.
Comments (22)
Add commentJust Wait!
Fix it when it breaks!! Good thing AELP doesn't fly planes;they could run ferries.
I'm glad...
...it's not me hanging on that pole. Never did like heights.
snagger
It's obvious you don't know anything about this situation. Go back to your hole.
snagger
let's remember your comment when a fan belt breaks on your vehicle...stuff happens...get over it.
(such negativity during the holidays...geesh!)
MAINTENANCE!!
jnup,aurora--In the past few years just how many trees have fallen and towers been obliterated. Accidents do happen--but with no consequences for AELP; around here they happen again and again and again...................................................
AEL&P
How much is going to be added on to our bills for the repairs?
we need access to cheaper heating costs
Our oil lobbyist Governor is on a billion dollar spending spree with his "Roads to Enriching" the oil, gas, and mining industries but what about Alaskans??
We have a right to keep more money in our own pockets! Don't you think? Alaskans need access to cheaper heat and we could spend some of "our" BILLIONS to do it.
We can build the infrastructure needed to get Alaskans on Geo-Thermal Heat and this will help combat Climate change.
@billb
JHC, Bill, give it up.
Stuff happens, get over it!
I just happened to be looking right at it when it happened. Near the highest point in the bridge, a little closer to the Juneau side, there was suddenly a large fireball, it looked like white fireworks. The lights went out on the bridge and everywhere else immediately. Less than a second later, there was another smaller fireball closeer to the Juneau end of the bridge.
Thanks again for the folks at AEL&P for going out in a storm and getting our power back on. This Bud is for you.
Fix it in a STORM
Ya, they probably were not going to attempt that since it was WIND that knocked it down in the first place and getting up on a high tower with high WINDS isnt the smartest thing to do.... Do you think so? At least they were able to have power with in 2 hours of some sort. And we live in Juneau where the winds blow and the mud flows along with snow in the season.... If you cant handle it move.
@snagger
Imagine that... Trees fall, avalanches come down the mountains, the wind blows. Stuff happens. What consequences should AEL&P bear for stuff happening?
In my business, when the cost of doing business goes up (because stuff happens) so do my prices. That's the way it works. In fact...That's the way it always works except in a faraway land called Whinerville where the Free Fairy swoops in with puppies and rainbows to make everything better...
Question...
Was it the same QA inspectors that looked at the transmission line last year and said it was good-to-go as it was that looked at the TWO frayed guy-wires that snapped recently? Maybe just a fluke, maybe they weren't fraying, but after all my tower work I've never heard of two guy-wires snapping that weren't already showing wear-and-tear for many, many years... Most companies would have had them replaced after the regular visual inspection. But who am I? Just someone who has replaced guy-wires on towers up to 300'... Just sayin'
Dear AEL&P, When the power
Dear AEL&P,
When the power went out the other day, I was in the middle of cooking a roast. It still had a half hour to go, and over the ensuing hour and a half, it cooled. When I reheated it, it turned out dry and stringy. The broccoli I was steaming also turned to mush.
In the future, if there's going to be a power outage, please schedule them for later in the night when fewer people will be cooking or doing other important things. It would save many of us the unpleasantness of a ruined dinner.
Thank you.
Pers...
Deep thoughts by Jack Handy...
@Micky TOO
Iwill give it up when AEL&P no longer keeps gouging the people of Juneau
@cnmccoy
That is the crux of the problem right there my friend. AEl&P just can't seem to handle it.
They are perfectly willing to charge Cadillac prices but provide second rate service.
Glad to see AEL&P at work
Makes me feel proud to see our utility out there working for us.
I hope none of the boats traveling near the bridge were in any danger.
transmission line
Get ready for (another) rate increase.
Thank you AEL&P for all that
Thank you AEL&P for all that you do! 99.9% of us appreciate it. Merry Christmas!
Don't speak for me GMPATTON
How in the world can one say 99.9% of people like AEL&P -- that means only 300 people in Juneau are dissatisfied with AEL&P... that's nonsense. Don't speak for the masses when you're out of touch.
With that said, AL&P's hardworking line crews are some of the toughest and hardest working out there. It's the management that rides the gravy train and draws this community's ire.
gmpatton
There are very few people on these comment sections who have positive things to say. It's easy to complain and bash people and get that anger out (very vocal minority), but it's more difficult to give compliments (non vocal majority). Count me in the 99.9%! I think AELP provides a great service to Juneau, and has for more than 100 years. It would be interesting to know how much preventive maintenance they conduct during the year that the general public does not know about.
Can you imagine the complaining that would have occurred after the 1984 Thanksgiving Day storm?! Wow!
Merry Christmas (as opposed to Happy Holidays)!
@Rainpedaler: .01% would
@Rainpedaler: .01% would actually be 3 people.