UPDATE: Power restored in Rexburg, Rigby and Ririe
UPDATE: 11:45 a.m.
Rocky Mountain Power technicians have determined that a fire at the utility’s Rigby Substation Wednesday night was caused by the failure of a voltage monitoring device.
Spokesman Dave Eskelsen said the device is designed to protect both company and customer electronics. When the device failed, it triggered other safety mechanisms to open all circuits and shut down the substation for safety.
The substation serves upper valley customers and the area north and west of Idaho Falls.
The Rigby substation has been restored and was back in service Thursday morning, bypassing the failed equipment.
Update: 8:30 a.m.
Rocky Mountain Power technicians said the cause of a fire at its Rigby substation Wednesday night is still uncertain.
Spokesman Dave Eskelsen in Salt Lake City said as soon as the outage began at around 10:20 p.m. crews began working to restore power to around 27 thousand customers from other directions.
Most were restored, in stages, by midnight with another large group of customers coming back on lineat around 3:30 a.m. Thursday.
Around 800 customers in the Lewisville and Rigby area, served by a Menan substation, were restored in stages at 6:59 a.m. and 7:36 a.m. Eskelsen said it appeared that outage was caused by a separate problem that had to be repaired by a lineman.
Rocky Mountain Power crews were expected to be working Thursday on restoring normal operations to the Rigby substation. Eskelsen said that work should not interrupt power to customers.
UPDATE: 3:30 a.m.
Rocky Mountain Power says all power has been restored.
There are power outages being reported in Rexburg, Rigby, Ririe, Ashton, St. Anthony, and surrounding areas.
Rocky Mountain Power has confirmed to us that more than 27-thousand customers are without power, due to a fire at a substation near Rigby. Crews have been dispatched. It is unknown when power will be restored.
The Jefferson County Sheriffs’ Office asks that people just stay home as it is cold and there is no need for people to drive by and see what is happening.
We also have been contacted by the director of Fairwinds Assisted Living in Idaho Falls, who says if you know of an elderly neighbor to check on them as they can get disoriented and may need help. Fairwinds Assisted Living in Idaho Falls, who says if you know of an elderly neighbor to check on them as they can get disoriented and may need help.
Also, anyone in Fremont County who needs a warm place to stay warming stations have been set up at South Fremont Fire Department Ashton Area and Ashton Living Center
