The Chelan County PUD is providing an update to an outage that began around 3:45 Friday morning and affected about 3,700 customers in the Lake Wenatchee, Plain and Coles Corner area.

Spokesperson Rachel Hansen said they initially suspected something happened to a transmission line that runs from Peshastin to Coles Corner, but the extreme conditions held up efforts to investigate the problem.

"There was a high avalanche danger." explained Hansen, "We tried to send in a helicopter to investigate the problem, but that helicopter had to turn back because of freezing rain."

Eventually a crew used snowcats to venture into the backcountry, locating a tree in the transmission line around 3:15 Friday afternoon. A road needs to be plowed to the site before equipment can be brought in to remove the tree.

The PUD estimates power should be restored sometime Friday evening.

Hansen added that if you're ever in a power outage, make sure to unplug all of your appliances to help restart the system.

"Just turn off everything except for one light so that you know when power is back on." continued Hansen, "When power is back on, give us ten minutes just to make sure the electrical grid is stable before you start turning on those appliances."

Hansen stated that the PUD appreciates the patience its customers have shown throughout the winter, as well as the continued efforts of their crews, who are working in tough and trying conditions.

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