A major power outage across Washington County left tens of thousands of Southern Utah residents without electricity Thursday evening, forcing utilities to begin rolling blackouts while crews worked to restore the main transmission system.
More than 40,000 residents were affected during the outage. By around 8 p.m., Dixie Power reported that approximately 33,000 of its customers were still without electricity. Utility officials said breakers serving Washington County had tripped at a main grid station operated by PacifiCorp, disrupting power across a large portion of the county.
Technicians were sent to inspect the grid station and work on restoring the main power supply. At the time of the updates, the exact cause of the outage had not been determined. Officials said crews had not identified any catastrophic equipment failure, but the system was continuing to be assessed.
Dixie Power Starts Rolling Blackouts Across Service Area
While PacifiCorp crews worked on restoring the main countywide transmission supply, Dixie Power and other local utilities began bringing backup generators online.
The available generators were not capable of powering the entire service area at once. Instead, electricity was being rotated between neighborhoods to give customers temporary access to power.
By about 9:30 p.m., Dixie Power said it had access to enough capacity to serve around 25% of its normal electrical load. The utility began rolling blackouts, with neighborhoods generally receiving electricity for about 60 minutes before power was shifted to another area.
Based on the available capacity, customers were advised to expect roughly one hour of electricity every four hours. Officials cautioned that the intervals were estimates and could change depending on system conditions.
The temporary rotations were intended to allow residents to cool their homes, run refrigerators, charge essential devices and meet other basic needs while crews continued working toward full restoration.
No firm estimate was immediately available for when normal service would return across the entire Dixie Power system.
Hospitals and Emergency Services Receive Priority
As limited electricity became available, St. George officials said critical infrastructure would receive priority.
Hospitals, critical care centers, emergency services and other essential facilities were among the locations expected to receive power first.
Springdale officials also described the outage as a major transmission failure affecting much of Washington County. At the time of their update, Rocky Mountain Power estimated that service could be restored by around 2:30 a.m. Friday, though restoration times remained subject to change.
Residents were urged to call 911 only for genuine emergencies so emergency communication lines would remain available for people needing immediate assistance.
Washington City Power also asked customers who still had electricity to conserve energy and avoid unnecessary use of air conditioning because the system was operating with severely limited capacity.
Safety Tips During the Washington County Power Outage
Residents using generators should operate them only outdoors and keep them away from windows, doors, garages and other enclosed spaces. Generators can produce dangerous carbon monoxide, which can become deadly if it accumulates indoors.
Gas stoves and ovens should not be used to heat homes because they can also increase the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, fires and burns.
Residents should unplug sensitive electronics and appliances during an outage to help protect them from electrical surges when power is restored.
People who depend on electrically powered medical devices or medications that require refrigeration should make alternative arrangements as soon as possible. Those with concerns about refrigerated medicine should check storage instructions and contact a doctor or pharmacist when necessary.
How Long Will Food Stay Safe Without Electricity?
Keeping refrigerator and freezer doors closed is one of the most important steps during a prolonged outage.
An unopened refrigerator can generally keep food cold for about four hours. A full freezer may maintain safe temperatures for approximately 48 hours, while a half-full freezer may stay cold for around 24 hours.
Residents can use coolers and ice to extend storage time. Perishable food that has remained at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or above for two hours or longer should generally be discarded.
Food that has an unusual smell, color or texture should also be thrown away rather than tasted to determine whether it is safe.
Dry ice can be useful during an extended outage. About 50 pounds of dry ice can help keep an 18-cubic-foot freezer cold for approximately two days.
St. George Drivers Asked to Limit Travel
Officials also encouraged residents to avoid unnecessary travel while traffic signals and other infrastructure remained affected.
Drivers approaching intersections where traffic lights are not functioning should treat them as four-way stops and proceed cautiously.
Ivins residents were advised to keep doors and windows closed, cover windows where possible, avoid opening refrigerators and freezers unnecessarily and keep flashlights available. City Hall was also identified as a possible cooling location if the outage continued.
Residents should check on older adults, children, neighbors and anyone who may be particularly vulnerable to heat or extended power loss.
Officials said customers should continue monitoring updates from Dixie Power, Rocky Mountain Power, Washington City Power and local governments for restoration estimates, cooling-center information and emergency guidance.
With crews working through the night and backup power being rotated across neighborhoods, the immediate focus remained on restoring full service while protecting critical infrastructure and keeping residents safe.
