Update: Tree Fell on Wire, Caused Power Outage

A tree, possibly brought down by the wind, fell on a utility wire outside the PECO substation on Route 29, knocking out power to about 5,000 PECO customers, Friday night, April 6, according to PECO spokesperson Ben Armstrong.

At first, PECO crews believed an underground cable had been damaged. In fact, the wire was located in a spot when the underground cable becomes aerial, Armstrong said. Any fire or smoke seen by those neighboring the site could have been the wire coming down and arcing, Amstrong said.

As of 9:30 p.m., about 50 customers were without power, and they could be without power for at least another couple of hours as crews work to repair the wire, according to Armstrong.

Most of the affected customers' power outages were "momentary," Armstrong said. According to Armstrong, PECO has devices on their system that send out  a signal to determine where damage is located. The damage is then isolated and it automatically restores power to customers.

“Everything operated as expected an minimized impact on customers,” Armstrong said.

Perkiomen and Collegeville fire crews responded to reports of outdoor electrical fires, impacting transformers in the 110 block of Route 29 in Perkiomen Township and Ninth Avenue in Collegeville around 8:15 p.m., April 6. Fire police are directing traffic along Main Street in Collegeville.

Ursinus College's Campus Safety sent an alert to students about the power outage.

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About 5,000 PECO customers in the Perkiomen Valley area were without power Friday night, April 6, due to a problem with an underground cable outside the PECO substation on Route 29.

The outage started around 8:20 p.m., according to PECO spokesperson Ben Armstrong, and 80 percent of the customers had power restored shortly after 9 p.m. Armstrong said crews were aiming to have power 100 percent restored by 9:30 p.m.

The cause and extent of the cable's damage is currently under investigation, Armstrong said. Once the problem is identified, PECO crews will isolate and remove the damaged portion of the cable, and then repair the cable, Armstrong said.

Perkiomen and Collegeville fire crews responded to reports of outdoor electrical fires, impacting transformers in the 110 block of Route 29 in Perkiomen Township and Ninth Avenue in Collegeville around 8:15 p.m., April 6. Fire police are directing traffic along Main Street in Collegeville.

Ursinus College's Campus Safety sent an alert to students about the power outage.

Armstrong said he had not heard reports of any outside fires, but said people may have seen "smoldering" along the heavily insulated cables that "heated up" when the damage occurred.