Canada’s Squamish in the dark as transmission circuit failure leaves over 11,000 homes powerless

A brief power outage in Canada’s Squamish left over 11,000 homes and businesses in the dark on Thursday (August 14, 2025). The power was later restored in the region. The power cut began at around 2:39 PM, according to the BC Hydro website, and it was restored at around 3:59 PM. The power cut in the area occurred due to a transmission circuit failure.

According to The Squamish Chief, BC Hydro crews were scheduled to arrive in Squamish by 4:30 PM. However, the power was switched on ahead of schedule. 11,335 homes and businesses were affected in Squamish as a result of the transmission circuit failure, BC Hydro said in a social media post.

What is transmission circuit failure?

A transmission circuit failure takes place when a major transmission line is unable to deliver electricity. "This could be caused by a variety of factors, from a damaged transmission tower to a lightning strike," according to the BC Hydro website. Restoring the power following this kind of power outage requires specialized equipment to identify the problem.

"Repairs for this type of outage can be prolonged, as it may be difficult to access the area to identify the problem, and we may need to bring in specialized equipment. We'll often look to provide electricity to impacted customers via an alternate path through 'switching' while crews work on repairs," the website states.

The power cut in Squamish caused issues for people in all neighborhoods except for Brackendale. The power outage also extended to Britannia Beach and Lions Bay.