BC Hydro has announced a planned 12-hour power outage on Sunday, September 14, affecting approximately 8,500 customers in the North Thompson Valley as part of essential maintenance on the region’s transmission line.
The scheduled outage will take place from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and will impact communities including Barriere, Clearwater, Blue River, Vavenby, Avola, Little Fort, Heffley Creek, and Sun Peaks. However, residents of Heffley Creek and Sun Peaks will experience only two brief outages—from 7:00 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. and again from 6:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.—thanks to efforts by BC Hydro to reduce the number of affected customers during this maintenance period.
Susan Edgell, spokesperson for BC Hydro, explained the breakdown: “About 6,000 customers will experience the full 12-hour outage, while another 2,500 people in Heffley Creek and Sun Peaks will be affected only by the two short outages, bringing the total impacted to approximately 8,500.”
Edgell emphasized the importance of the work, stating, “This is critical maintenance on our single radial transmission line that serves the North Thompson and Robson Valley. It ensures the line remains reliable and dependable, especially going into the winter months.”
She added, “This kind of work must be done during daylight hours, so we have 16 crews assigned to different sections of the line to complete upgrades and repairs efficiently within the 12-hour window.”
This maintenance is part of an annual program, now in its second year, following detailed inspections that revealed the need for routine upkeep. “Rather than waiting for a weather-related failure, this planned outage allows us to proactively address many pieces of infrastructure at once, improving reliability for everyone,” Edgell noted.
Communities such as Valemount and McBride will remain powered throughout the outage, supported by independent power producers.
Regarding the timing of the outage, Edgell said, “We consulted with municipal officials, First Nations representatives, and stakeholders like Sun Peaks Resort. While there is no perfect time for a 12-hour outage, Sunday, September 14 was deemed the best option to minimize disruption, considering weather and power demand.”
She acknowledged the inconvenience but urged patience: “We know this is an inconvenience, and we appreciate our customers’ understanding as we work to better serve the community.”
BC Hydro has already notified impacted customers with up-to-date contact information via email and automated phone calls, with a second round of notifications planned two weeks prior to the outage.
Edgell also reassured residents that similar planned outages occur elsewhere in British Columbia. “While this is only the second annual outage in the North Thompson Valley, we’ve seen similar proactive maintenance outages on Vancouver Island and other parts of the province to ensure a reliable power system through the seasons.”
BC Hydro thanks its customers for their patience and understanding as it strengthens the North Thompson Valley’s electrical infrastructure ahead of the winter months.
