Blackout hits area

PABLO — Super Bowl spectators weren’t the only ones to experience a loss of power in the past week. A widespread power outage blindsided residents of Lake and Sanders Counties around 8:30 last Wednesday night, immersing local households in darkness for only about five to ten minutes.

According to Craig Morigeau, superintendent of operations and construction for Mission Valley Power, the blackout stretched from Hot Springs and Camas Prairie to Polson and Ronan, affecting an estimated 8,000 people.

Morigeau reported that the Bonneville Power Administration, which operates Kerr Dam, required the outage after a technical problem was detected at the dam sub-station.

Though he could not elaborate further on the nature of the problem, Morigeau said the shutdown was a necessary precaution.

“We had very little time to notify the public,” said Morigeau.

“It’s very rare that we need to take this immediate type of action,” he said of the incident.