Some 14,000 without electricity as vandals attack Washington station

Robert Besser
30 Dec 2022, 18:17 GMT+10

The Pierce County Sheriff's Department said three electrical substations were vandalized in Tacoma, Washington, affecting more than 14,000 customers
It was not yet clear if the Christmas Day incidents were linked, it added, noting that robberies were reported at two substations belonging to Tacoma Public Utilities and another belonging to Puget Sound Energy
The cold weather system, including severe winter storms that swept the US this week, has strained utilities and left more than 300,000 without power

TACOMA, Washington: The Pierce County Sheriff's Department has said that three electrical substations were vandalized in Tacoma, Washington, leaving thousands of residents without power, affecting more than 14,000 customers.

It was not yet clear if the Christmas Day incidents were linked, it added, noting that robberies were reported at two substations belonging to Tacoma Public Utilities and another belonging to Puget Sound Energy.

In a statement on its website, the department said, "At this time deputies are conducting the initial investigation. We do not have any suspects in custody. It is unknown if there are any motives or if this was a coordinated attack on the power systems."

The cold weather system, including severe winter storms that swept the US this week, has strained utilities and left more than 300,000 without power.

In a Twitter post, Tacoma Public Utilities wrote that after an initial 7,300 residents lost power in the area, about 45 miles south of Seattle, 2,700 people serviced by Tacoma Public Utilities remained affected in east Pierce County.

"We are working as quickly and safely as possible to restore power," the tweet stated, noting that its substations "were attacked "earlier on Christmas morning, and that the incidents were reported to police.

Representatives for Puget Sound Energy have not immediately responded to requests for comment.