Latest outage update from Kootenai Electric

Kootenai Electric crews are currently working in the following areas:

· Rathdrum area

· Rimrock

· Cougar gulch

· Riverview Dr.

· Hayden Lake

· Hauser

· Harrison

· Kidd Island

· Garwood

· French Gulch

· Right now our main goal is to keep our main feeders on and clear hazards that are dangerous to the public.

· We have crews in key areas across our system, but with the continued snow fall we are seeing power restored and then knocked out again a few hours later.

· As always, members need to assume downed lines are energized and stay away from them. Do not try to knock the snow off of the lines or trees leaning into lines.

· We haven’t seen a winter storm like this since 1996.

· We maintain our right of way, however many of the trees that are falling into lines are actually located outside of our designated right of way and are so loaded with snow that they are leaning into lines.

· This regional snowfall is causing problems for other area utilities as well.

· Those utilities that are not affected have sent in crews to help.

Visit www.KEC.com for outage updates. 

- Erika Neff, Kootenai Electric