Power surge causes thousands in damages in Pocatello neighborhood

A transformer explosion knocked out power in a rural Pocatello neighborhood last week. The explosion also sent a huge power surge through many homes causing damage ranging in the 10’s of thousands of dollars.

Neighbors in the cinnamon ridge area are still shaken up after the transformer explosion last week. Which sent a massive power surge through the neighborhood, frying all kinds of household appliances.

Holly Kree, is concerned for when she’ll get a new refrigerator. Dishes are washed by hand now since her dishwasher also broke during the power surge.

“As a result of that, we lost multiple appliances, heat exchangers, video equipment, light fixtures, jacuzzi, and this was shared by all 8 homes.”

Earlier that day, homes in the area had no power due to work being down the street, on Mink Creek Road. Another neighbor explains, “Our air conditioning stopped, in addition, our water heater stopped, we lost our dishwasher, our fridge, our stovetop, and one of our ovens as well.”

For Holly, a resident who lived through the devastating Charlotte fire back in 2012. She knows this could have been a lot worse given the dry heat within the area.

“In our climate condition, we are getting dryer and dryer and I think when they work on transformers and power lines in this dry rural areas they have to be very careful.”

As of now, Idaho Power is taking full responsibility for the damages and will reimburse the residents through their homeowner’s insurance. However, they have yet put out an official statement on this event.