Update, 4:26 p.m.: Rocky Mountain Power says service has been restored to all customers affected by the precautionary outage in southeastern Idaho.
We’re showing all customers restored. If you're still w/out power, pls call us 877-508-5088.Thx for patience during unexpected outage today!
— Rocky Mountain Power ID (@RMP_Idaho) December 4, 2013
Update, 2:35 p.m.: A technical problem at a Rocky Mountain Power substation near Firth caused a power outage for more than 53,000 customers in southeastern Idaho.
Company spokesman David Eskelsen says the company was required to disrupt service to about 49,000 Idaho customers shortly after 5 a.m. Wednesday. Additionally Bonneville Power asked the Fall River Rural Electric Cooperative to cut power to half of its customers in the Teton, Island Park and West Yellowstone, Mont., areas.
By 2 p.m. Wednesday, Rocky Mountain Power said just over 3,000 customers were still without power.
Many schools affected by the outage were closed as was the Idaho Falls Senior Center. Warming shelters were opened in Rexburg, Rigby, Ammon and Idaho Falls.
Fall River asked its customers to continue conserving energy so the region wouldn't face rolling blackouts as the repairs were made.
Update, 12:40 p.m.: Rocky Mountain Power says it's slowly restoring service to people in southeastern Idaho who've been without power since just after 5:00 a.m. Wednesday.
Spokesman David Eskelsen says about 25,000 people are still without power. That's down from a peak of about 49,000 Rocky Mountain Power customers.
Original Post: A technical problem at a Rocky Mountain Power substation near Firth is causing power outages for more than 53,000 customers in Bonneville County area of southeastern Idaho.
Company spokesman David Eskelsen says the company was required to disrupt service to about 49,000 Idaho customers shortly after 5 a.m. Wednesday. Additionally Bonneville Power asked Rocky Mountain to cut power to half of its customers in the Teton, Island Park and West Yellowstone, Mont. areas.
Eskelsen says the company is working to restore a circuit breaker and to re-route power where it can, but customers may be without power until Wednesday afternoon.
Schools affected by the outage were closed. The Idaho Falls Senior Center was closed and is not delivering meals.
The midmorning temperature in Idaho Falls was 1 degree.