More than 1,700 BC Hydro customers were without power Jan. 1, 2020, for several hours due to a snow storm. (BC Hydro)

More than 1,700 BC Hydro customers were without power Jan. 1, 2020, for several hours due to a snow storm. (BC Hydro)

Lumby in the dark after snowstorm

Snow plows working with BC Hydro to gain access to 23K affected customers in region

  • Jan. 1, 2020 12:00 a.m.

A snowstorm has shut the lights off in Lumby for several hours affecting more than 1,600 BC Hydro customers.

BC Hydro said power has been off since 4:30 a.m. Wednesday morning, but residents said power has been in and out since yesterday afternoon.

A crew has been assigned to the situation affecting residents east of Headgates Road.

Meanwhile, AIM Roads said it’s working quickly to gain access to snowed-in areas to aid BC Hydro in their efforts to restore power to more than 23,000 affected customers.

More than 60 centimetres of snow fell in the North Okanagan-Shuswap area, AIM Roads said in an update, and many side roads are still unplowed.

Power outages are reported in Falkland, Armstrong, Lavington and Cherryville.

“Crews are being dispatched based on these priorities,” a statement reads. “This means we are not able to plow roads in an orderly manner and we are advising people to please be patient.”

“Safety is our priority and everyone is working as quickly as they can.”

Eleven graders are dedicated to side roads and all subcontracted graders have been contacted for additional assistance.

Many of the contractors, however, are already working or are unavailable due to the holiday, AIM Roads said.

Customers are asked to not contact the communication centre unless there is an emergency as most the maintenance company is trying to leave as many lines open to respond to BC Hydro and other emergency requests.


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