A power outage at approximately 5:20 p.m. on July 4 affected more than 18,000 customers on the Sunshine Coast.

“The power outage was the result of a fault on a transmission line, and that occurred just after 5 p.m.,” BC Hydro’s media spokesperson Jennifer Young said on Thursday morning, noting the outage didn’t last too long. “We were able to switch all customers to an alternate source so all customers were restored within the hour. We appreciate everyone’s patience during that outage.”

The blackouts, stretching from Gibsons to Egmont, were mostly restored by 5:45 p.m. Wednesday evening.

It was reported by BC Hydro that 429 customers in Egmont had their power restored by 6:13 p.m.

The company was investigating what caused the fault in their transmission line as Coast Reporter went to press Thursday.

“It could be a number of things and that’s what they would be investigating today,” Young said.

Until the exact problem is pinpointed and the transmission line restored, Young said Coasters will remain on the alternate power grid.

Other outages were also reported on July 4. At approximately 9:25 a.m., an estimated 213 customers lost power for over an hour, with addresses listed from Elphinstone to Plumper Cove on Keats Island.

A two-hour planned outage also took place on Keats Island at 10 a.m. that day.

“That was to remove some trees that were at risk of falling on some lines,” Young said.

The planned outage impacted about 200 customers for a couple of hours, she noted.

For up to date information about power outages and estimated restoration times go to www.bchydro.com/outages or call 1-888-POWER-ON.

— With files from Christine Wood