B.C. Storm Power Outages: Thousands Lose Electricity in Greater Victoria, Fort St. John and Kaslo

VANCOUVER, B.C. – December 6, 2025 —
High winds, heavy rain and early‑winter storms knocked out electricity to more than 9,000 customers across British Columbia on Friday, December 5, with major power outages on Vancouver Island’s West Shore, in Fort St. John, and in the Kootenay community of Kaslo.

By Saturday, utilities reported full restoration in Fort St. John and Kaslo, while BC Hydro crews on southern Vancouver Island continued cleanup and localized repairs after a tree brought down lines serving Metchosin, Royal Bay and South Langford. TechStock²+2Facebook+2

Stormy Friday knocks out power at both ends of B.C.

Friday’s disruptions were driven by a familiar mix: soaked soil, high winds and tall trees close to power lines.

On Greater Victoria’s West Shore, a falling tree onto BC Hydro infrastructure cut power to 3,054 customers in Metchosin, Colwood’s Royal Bay area and the Latoria neighbourhood of South Langford just before 3 p.m. ^[1]
In Fort St. John, two separate morning outages within 40 minutes of each other left about 5,400 BC Hydro customers without electricity across large residential areas. ^[2]
In Kaslo, around 1,000 FortisBC customers lost power in the mid‑afternoon as crews investigated a localized fault. ^[3]

All three events were resolved or substantially reduced within hours, but they add to a growing pattern of short, intense weather‑related power cuts that BC Hydro has been warning about since declaring 2024 a record year for storm outages. ^[4]

Greater Victoria West Shore: Tree damage leaves 3,054 in the dark

Afternoon outage hits Metchosin, Royal Bay and South Langford

According to Island Social Trends, the West Shore outage began at 2:59 p.m. Friday when a tree came down over BC Hydro lines, cutting service to 3,054 customers. ^[5]

The affected zone stretched across:

Metchosin, on both sides of Metchosin Road
The Latoria area of south Langford
Parts of Colwood, including Royal Bay and the Esquimalt Lagoon area ^[6]

The timing was awkward: many residents were arriving home from work or school as the lights went off and winds picked up.

Local coverage notes that Environment Canada’s Victoria forecast for Friday called for strong southwest winds with gusts that could approach storm‑force near the Juan de Fuca Strait, alongside persistent rain and temperatures hovering in the high single digits. ^[7]

Online weather watchers, including popular forecaster Frankie MacDonald, had flagged December 5 for “a lot of rain” across Vancouver Island and Metro Vancouver, underlining how widely the storm system was being tracked. ^[8]

Restoration progress through Friday evening

By early evening, BC Hydro had made partial progress:

Metchosin customers were back on by about 7:44 p.m.
Around 1,078 customers — particularly in the Royal Bay and Ryder Hesjedal Way area of Colwood — remained without power as crews continued work. ^[9]

Island Social Trends reported that this remained the only major outage on South Vancouver Island Friday night, with BC Hydro listing it as an unplanned event linked to stormy weather. ^[10]

As of publication time, BC Hydro had not issued a detailed public explanation of the exact failure point beyond the initial tree contact, and the utility had yet to publish a formal “all clear” specific to the Royal Bay pocket. Customers were advised to monitor BC Hydro’s outage map and outage list for the latest status. ^[11]

Fort St. John: Dual morning outages affect more than 5,400 customers

Two blackouts within 40 minutes

In Fort St. John, the largest single disruption came early in the day.

Reporting by Energeticcity.ca and a follow‑up analysis published today by TechStock² (“Fort St. John Power Outages: Thousands Lose Electricity as BC Hydro Restores Service After Dual December 5 Blackouts”) piece together a detailed timeline: ^[12]

First outage – 8:56 a.m.
- Affected roughly 4,268 BC Hydro customers.
- The outage footprint covered a rectangular swath of the city bounded by streets near 115th Avenue, 78th Street, 81st Street and 99th Avenue. TechStock²+1
Second outage – 9:39 a.m.
- Hit a separate zone, impacting about 1,147 customers.
- This area ran roughly east of 98th Street, north of 102nd Avenue, west of 112th Avenue and south of 118A Avenue. TechStock²+1

Combined, the two events left approximately 5,415 customers without power over the span of less than an hour — a significant portion of the city’s residential and commercial customers. TechStock²

BC Hydro listed the incidents separately on its outage map and outage list, deploying crews to both areas. Residents monitoring the online tools would have seen two large outage clusters sitting across central neighbourhoods. ^[13]

Power restored before noon

The good news for residents is that Fort St. John’s dual blackout was relatively short‑lived.

By around 11:40 a.m. Pacific time, BC Hydro’s online tools showed power restored to all customers affected by both outages, and the incidents dropped off the “active” outage list. TechStock²+1

Local radio and online outlets echoed the update, confirming that electricity was back across the city before midday. As of December 6, Fort St. John is not showing any major ongoing outages tied to the December 5 event. TechStock²+1

Follows a planned outage and a year of smaller cuts

Friday’s blackouts came less than a week after a major planned outage in Fort St. John:

On Saturday, November 29, BC Hydro took about 1,148 customers offline from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. to replace a power pole along a local distribution line.
The planned shutdown affected a large block of north‑side neighbourhoods, including streets around 88th–94th Streets and 104th–118th Avenues, plus several “A” avenues and Princess Crescent. TechStock²

BC Hydro said customers in the planned‑work zone received automated phone calls and postcards ahead of time — standard practice when crews need to de‑energize lines for maintenance. TechStock²

The TechStock² analysis also notes a series of smaller outages earlier in 2025:

An October 27 downed wire northwest of Fort St. John that cut power to 54 customers.
A June 3 fault associated with maintenance that briefly affected customers along the Alaska Road corridor and nearby communities. TechStock²

Taken together, the dual December 5 outage, late‑November maintenance shutdown and earlier events have made reliability a recurring topic of conversation for Peace Region residents this year.

Cause still not publicly confirmed

So far, BC Hydro has not publicly specified the exact cause of the December 5 Fort St. John outages. Local reporting and the TechStock² recap focus on the timing, geography and restoration timeline, but they do not attribute the event to a particular storm, equipment failure or accident. ^[14]

On its outage‑preparedness pages, BC Hydro lists four common causes of power cuts in B.C.:

severe weather (wind, rain, snow, ice),
motor‑vehicle collisions with poles,
equipment problems, and
contact with wildlife such as birds or squirrels. TechStock²+1

Until BC Hydro releases more information, Fort St. John customers know when the power went out — but not yet why those specific circuits failed.

Kaslo: FortisBC restores power after outage for about 1,000 customers

While BC Hydro was dealing with wind and tree damage, FortisBC was responding to its own outage in the West Kootenay.

Mid‑afternoon blackout and quick restoration

In a service alert timestamped 3:50 p.m. on December 5, FortisBC reported it was “working to restore power to around 1,000 customers in Kaslo”, noting that crews were on scene and investigating the cause. ^[15]

Around the same time, FortisBC posted on Facebook and Threads that:

crews were “aware of a power outage affecting about 1,000 customers in Kaslo”, and
they appreciated customers’ patience while work was underway. ^[16]

A later social update confirmed that power had been restored to customers in Kaslo, thanking residents for their patience as crews worked “safely and as quickly as possible.” ^[17]

FortisBC did not immediately specify the root cause, but the outage comes as the utility continues ongoing transmission upgrades and warns that extreme weather and wildfire‑season risks can make electric service in some Interior communities more vulnerable. ^[18]

A province already primed for storm‑related outages

The latest outages are unfolding against a backdrop of increasingly volatile weather and a grid that BC Hydro says is being reshaped by climate change.

In a January 31, 2025 news release reviewing last year’s storm season, BC Hydro reported that: ^[19]

2024 was the most severe year on record for weather‑related power outages.
More than 1.4 million customers experienced storm‑driven outages — the highest number in the utility’s history.
Three powerful late‑year storms on the South Coast and Vancouver Island accounted for roughly one million customer outages combined.
Years of drought left many trees dry and weakened, making them more likely to fall into lines during wind events.

At the same time, BC Hydro says its crews have improved restoration times, maintaining a track record of restoring service to about 90% of customers within 24 hours, and roughly three‑quarters within 12 hours, even during major storm events. ^[20]

To keep up with more frequent storms, BC Hydro has tripled its vegetation‑management budget for transmission and distribution lines compared with a decade ago — increasing annual spending from about $50 million to roughly $150 million to identify and remove high‑risk trees before they fall. ^[21]

Friday’s incidents in Greater Victoria, Fort St. John and Kaslo are smaller than those headline‑grabbing storms, but they fit the same pattern: short, sharp weather events that knock over trees or stress equipment, forcing utilities into rapid‑response mode.

What utilities are telling customers about safety and claims

Storm and downed‑line safety

Ahead of this storm season, BC Hydro issued an October 23, 2025 safety bulletin urging British Columbians to prepare for high winds and to take downed power lines seriously. The utility reminds customers to: ^[22]

Secure loose outdoor items (like patio furniture and decorations) before a windstorm so they can’t blow into lines or substations.
Treat any downed, damaged, or low‑hanging power line as an emergency — stay at least 10 metres away (about the length of a school bus) and call 911.
Remember that power lines can be dangerous even if they are not sparking or buzzing.

BC Hydro also emphasizes special precautions if a vehicle hits a power pole and lines come down:

Stay inside the vehicle if it’s safe and call 911.
If you must exit because of fire or another immediate danger, the recommended sequence is to jump clear without touching the car and ground at the same time, land with your feet together, and shuffle away at least 10 metres. ^[23]

These guidelines apply equally on the rural roads of Metchosin, the neighbourhood streets of Fort St. John, or Kaslo’s lakeside lanes whenever storms interact with overhead lines.

BC Hydro’s stance on outage‑related compensation

Unsurprisingly, whenever outages hit — especially repeated ones — customers ask about compensation for things like spoiled food, lost business revenue or damaged electronics.

BC Hydro is blunt on this point. On its “Claims for damages” page, the utility says it “works hard to provide safe and reliable service” but does not guarantee a constant supply of electricity, and therefore generally cannot be held responsible for losses caused by interruptions under its Electric Tariff. ^[24]

A separate outage‑privacy and legal notice clarifies that BC Hydro: ^[25]

does not offer compensation for power outages themselves, and
recommends that customers make claims through their home, tenant or business insurance for losses like spoiled food or downtime.

However, claims may be considered if there is clear evidence that:

BC Hydro staff or contractors caused direct physical damage to property (for example, to fencing or driveways) during construction, maintenance or restoration work, or
the incident involves a collision with a BC Hydro vehicle — in which case the matter is handled through ICBC. ^[26]

In practical terms, that means most residents affected by the December 5 Fort St. John, West Shore and Kaslo outages should not expect compensation from the utility for typical storm‑related losses.

How to prepare for future BC Hydro and FortisBC power outages

With atmospheric rivers, Arctic fronts and windstorms all common in a B.C. winter, both BC Hydro and FortisBC encourage customers to treat outages as a “when,” not an “if.” Based on their published guidance, here are key steps to stay ready: ^[27]

1. Before the storm

Build a 72‑hour emergency kit with flashlights, batteries, a battery‑powered or crank radio, non‑perishable food, bottled water, basic medications and a power bank for phones.
Charge devices and backup batteries ahead of any forecast storm.
Secure outdoor items — patio furniture, umbrellas, decorations and recycling bins can become airborne and damage lines or substations.

2. When the power goes out

Check your breaker panel to make sure the issue isn’t just inside your home.
If neighbouring homes are dark as well, check the utility outage map (BC Hydro or FortisBC) to confirm the utility is aware.
If your outage doesn’t appear online, report it through your online account or 1‑800 number (BC Hydro) or FortisBC’s outage line.

3. Reduce demand and stay safe

Turn off electric heaters and major appliances so the system isn’t overloaded when power returns.
Unplug sensitive electronics like computers and TVs to protect them from surges.
Keep fridge and freezer doors closed; a full, unopened freezer can keep food frozen for up to two days.
Use generators only outdoors, far from doors and windows, and never use barbecues, camp stoves or portable heaters designed for outdoors inside your home.

4. After the lights come back on

Bring appliances and heaters back gradually instead of switching everything on at once.
Check food carefully, following public‑health guidance on what to keep or discard after temperature fluctuations.
Restock your emergency kit and note what you wished you’d had on hand so you’re better prepared for the next event.

Weekend outlook: More winter weather on the way

Friday’s outages may not be the last weather‑related disruptions this week.

Environment Canada has issued a snowfall warning for the Coquihalla Highway between Hope and Merritt, with 30–40 cm of snow expected from Friday evening through late Saturday, potentially creating treacherous driving conditions and putting more strain on roadside infrastructure. ^[28]

Heavy rain forecasts remain in place for parts of Metro Vancouver and Vancouver Island, further saturating soils and keeping the risk of downed trees elevated. ^[29]

Utilities and local governments are urging British Columbians to:

Check travel conditions before heading over mountain passes,
Have emergency supplies in vehicles and at home, and
Know how to report outages or downed lines quickly and safely.

Key takeaways from the December 5 B.C. power outages

Greater Victoria West Shore: A tree on BC Hydro lines cut power to 3,054 customers in Metchosin, Royal Bay and South Langford, with Metchosin restored by Friday evening and crews continuing work in pockets of Colwood and Langford. ^[30]
Fort St. John: Two unplanned outages at 8:56 a.m. and 9:39 a.m. affected about 5,415 customers, but BC Hydro restored power before noon. The cause has not yet been publicly detailed. ^[31]
Kaslo: Around 1,000 FortisBC customers lost power mid‑afternoon; the utility later confirmed that crews had fully restored service. ^[32]
Bigger picture: BC Hydro reports that 2024 set a record for weather‑related outages, and it has tripled vegetation‑management spending as climate‑driven storms and drought‑stressed trees put more pressure on the grid. ^[33]
Preparedness matters: Utilities stress the same message to all customers — secure outdoor items, stay well back from any downed line, keep a 72‑hour emergency kit and rely on official outage maps and local media for verified information whenever the lights go out. ^[34]