Update 8:37pm: Almost all power has been restored to the Black Hills.
Update 8:02: reports from multiple Wyoming sources state the cause of the outage is due to two tripped 500 kilowatt lines near Medicine Bow. This caused abnormal voltages and tripped numerous surrounding lines.Â
Update 6:48pm: Power restoration is estimated to be complete by 10pm according to Black Hills Energy. The outage affected multiple utilities, causing generation facilities and substations to go offline. To ensure system safety and stability, power restoration is being done in a slow, phased process.
Update 5:23pm: Black Hills energy sent out a statement saying they are working as quickly and safely as possible to restore power to affected customers in South Dakota and Wyoming. Restoration will come in phased and a complex. To ensure stability and safety. Customers may experience short power outages or flickering during this time.
Update 4:13pm: The YMCA Childcare is requesting parents to please come pickup their children early if possible.
Update 3:22pm: According to City Hall, the Rapid City Library will remain closed for the remainder of the day due to the power outage.
Update: 2:55: Via City Hall: “RTS officials indicate buses are operating again, but experiencing delays as some intersections remain impacted by the power outage or have long lines of traffic. Be patient as buses are likely to be delayed as the afternoon progresses. Updates will be provided when available.”
Update 2:42pm: Update from Black Hills Energy: “We are working to restore power to customers in our Black Hills Power service territory in South Dakota and Wyoming affected by today’s regional electrical outage. Our team is now re-energizing the system in segments. As of 2:30 p.m. today, approximately half of our impacted customers have had their power restored. We will continue to safely restore power to our customers this afternoon and potentially into the evening hours.
This widespread outage impacted multiple utilities across the region, resulting from an event on the regional transmission grid outside of the Black Hills Energy footprint.
We encourage customers to remember these safety tips during an outage:
Non-functional traffic signals, treat as a four-way stop
Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed to help preserve food.
Use flashlights instead of candles to avoid fire hazards.
Don’t use generators indoors or in enclosed spaces.“
Update 2:25pm: Downtown Rapid City power is restored.
Update 2:19pm: Downtown Rapid City loses power again.
Update 2:15pm: Sources from Black Hills Energy are telling the Rapid City Post that about half of the customers who experienced the outage are now back up. The company says it is working diligently to restore the remaining locations over the next few hours.
Update 1:56pm: The Rapid City Government has released the following statement: “Power is being restored in some areas by Black Hills Energy crews. The outage is impacting the region, including the Black Hills, areas of northeast Wyoming and into Montana. BHE crews working on restoration.
Rapid City Police are working with the Pennington County Sheriff’s Department to provide traffic control at major intersections still impacted by the outage. Use four-way stop protocols and be patient as traffic works through intersections still impacted by the outage or power resumes to areas and traffic needs to return to normal flow. If you do not need to travel, stay in place until power is fully restored.
Rapid City Fire Department officials remind the public to use 911 for emergencies and not to report or check on outages. They want to leave the lines open for emergencies. Rapid Transit System operations remain suspended until 2:30 p.m. Updates will be provided when available.”
Update 1:52pm: Sources from Black Hills Energy are telling the Rapid City Post that there is a large scale regional outage in South Dakota and Wyoming caused by a transmission facility outside of their system. Local personnel are responding and we expect the company will provide updates as available.
Update 1:36pm: The Rapid City Government has released a statement following the outage, declaring Rapid Transit out of operation for the time being: “Rapid Transit System, including RapidRide and Dial-A-Ride operations, are suspended until 2:30 p.m. today due to the power outage and traffic impacts in the community. RTS plans to resume operations at 2:30 p.m. Updates will be provided when available.”
Update 1:16pm: The outage took place close to 1pm. Much of the traffic in Rapid City is currently being controlled by the Rapid City Police Department. Rapid City Public Schools announced that school will remain open until it’s normal times.
RAPID CITY, SD — Rapid City government officials have stated that power has been cut for the entirety of the city, with the wider region seeming to have experienced the same blackout conditions going as far as Wyoming. Causes for this outage are unknown.
Though power seems to be restored to some areas, this does not appear to be stable as of the time of writing.
This is a developing story, details to come as they become available.
