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We’re preparing for a series of weather systems through the middle of next week. While we expect to see active weather through the weekend that is likely to cause outages, most concerning is a strong weather system early next week. The combination of heavy rains weighing down vegetation along with saturated soils and breezy winds could lead to outages across much of our service area.

We understand how difficult it is to be without power. Our teams are preparing to respond, and crews will remain in the field to assess damage and restore power as long as it is safe. If your power goes out, we’ll work around the clock to restore it as quickly and safely as possible.

Visit PSE’s Alerts and Advisories page for information on our response efforts: pse.com/alerts.


alert 

Safety first. Never touch or go within 35 feet of downed power lines because they might be energized. Call PSE at 1-888-225-5773 or 911 to report problems.

Report and track power outages online

Puget Sound Energy tests new battery with Samish Island Community

Bellevue, Washington (2/29/2024) Puget Sound Energy (PSE) is partnering with the Samish Island Community to test out a new microgrid comprised of a 50kW/336kWh battery and an 8kW solar array. PSE will be testing the system’s ability to form a microgrid and provide back-up power during a power outage.

The battery is installed on the grounds of the Samish Island Fire Station, along with the solar array. The battery is housed in a weatherproof enclosure, atop a concrete foundation. PSE will primarily be testing the ability of the battery and solar array to form a microgrid and provide back-up power during an outage. This is known as islanding. PSE will also evaluate other functions like peak shaving, which eases strain on the grid during times of high demand, and frequency response, which contributes to grid stability.

“Our customers want a better, cleaner energy future – and so do we,” said Aaron August, senior vice president, chief customer and transformation officer at PSE. “Batteries and microgrids will help us deliver on the objectives of Washington’s Clean Energy Transformation Act and support PSE’s commitment to being a Beyond Net Zero energy company by 2045.”

This battery project will significantly improve local reliability. During an outage it will be capable of providing three nearby homes with temporary back-up power. It will also provide the local fire station with temporary power for critical functions during outages.

What PSE learns from this battery and microgrid testing will help shape the future of PSE’s energy grid while increasingly benefiting PSE customers. As technology evolves, PSE will continue to evaluate new uses, potential benefits and ways to get the most out of every installation.

The renewable resources we are testing during this 10-year demonstration will help PSE and utilities across the country determine the best ways to reduce greenhouse gas while still providing safe, reliable, and affordable service.


Media Contact:

Andrew Padula, 1-888-831-7250, psenewsroom@pse.com

Puget Sound Energy is proud to serve our neighbors and communities in 10 Washington counties.
We’re the state’s largest utility, supporting approximately 1.2 million electric customers and 900,000 natural gas customers.
We aspire to be a beyond net zero carbon energy company by 2045.
For more about us and what we do, visit pse.com. Also follow us on Facebook and Twitter.