St. George Utah Power Outage – Thousands Without Electricity Across Washington County
A widespread power outage left thousands of residents without electricity across St. George and surrounding parts of Washington County, Utah, on Thursday afternoon.
The outage began around 5:15 p.m. and affected customers across multiple communities in the area. Current outage data showed tens of thousands of customers across Washington County without power, including more than 13,000 Rocky Mountain Power customers.
The exact cause of the outage was not immediately known as utility crews worked to identify the problem and restore service.
The City of St. George said it believed the issue was connected to PacifiCorp, Rocky Mountain Power’s parent company, while its energy services team worked on the situation. Rocky Mountain Power’s outage information is updated periodically as crews assess outages and restoration efforts.
Police issue emergency warning
The St. George Police Department urged residents not to call 911 simply to report the power outage. Officials asked residents to reserve emergency lines for situations requiring immediate assistance.
Drivers were also warned to use caution at intersections where traffic signals were not operating. Any intersection with a non-functioning traffic signal should be treated as a four-way stop unless law enforcement officers are directing traffic.
Extreme heat adds concern
The outage comes as Southern Utah continues to experience very high temperatures. Forecasts for St. George on Thursday called for temperatures around 106 degrees, making the loss of air conditioning particularly concerning for residents.
Residents without electricity are being encouraged to conserve phone batteries, limit the opening of refrigerators and freezers, and check on elderly neighbors and others who may be especially vulnerable to the heat.
Anyone dependent on electrically powered medical equipment should make alternative arrangements or seek assistance if necessary.
Utility crews are continuing to work on the widespread outage, while residents are being advised to monitor their electricity provider for restoration updates.