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Grid infrastructureUnited StatesEIR-1250

Transformer explosion causes outage for more than 6,700 Seattle customers

Oct 2025Published 25 Sept 2026Responsible editor: Chief Editor

SignificantElectricalProvisional
Estimated damageEstimated by the register's adjusterHow? Know the real figure?
Figure hidden: shown to subscribersLow confidence
supply cut for about •• daysShown in the record →Full estimate
From the recordFailed part hidden
Where
intersection of E Aloha and Harvard Ave in Capitol Hill, Seattle
Operator
Seattle City Light
What
Transformer explosion and fire
Cause
Not reported
Outcome
Power cut to more than 6,700 customers

Companies named in the reporting of this entry (being named is not a finding of fault): Seattle City Light

What happened

Electrical equipment exploded and caught fire at the intersection of E Aloha and Harvard Ave in Capitol Hill, Seattle, on a Saturday night. Seattle Fire responded to visible flames and smoke and worked to secure the scene. Seattle City Light crews assessed damage to the electrical infrastructure. The incident occurred during severe weather, with blustery winds and heavy rain forecast to continue. Seattle City Light first reported more than 700 customers without power, including Broadway north of Roy Street.

By 9.38 pm it reported a further 6,000 customers without power in the Capitol Hill core, bringing the total to more than 6,700. The outage affected residential and commercial properties and, as of Saturday night, remained limited to the Capitol Hill area. No restoration time was given. Residents were advised to check the utility outage map.

Contributing factors

Blustery winds and heavy rain were forecast, and the report says weather may have contributed. Seattle City Light has not confirmed the cause.

Lessons learned

  1. When customer numbers rise after an equipment fire, operators should say whether the wider outage is the same fault or a separate one.
  2. If no restoration time is known, saying so and pointing customers to a live outage map is a clear minimum.
  3. Severe weather at the time of a transformer fire is not, by itself, a confirmed cause.

More lessons on outages, backup supply and restoration, weather and external hazards, from every incident on the register.

Not yet known

  • Exact cause of the transformer explosion
  • Restoration time for the outage
  • Cost of repairs and lost supply

This entry is updated when these are reported. Get an alert for the next one like it.

Source

economictimes.indiatimes.com

Published 2026-09-25. Written from public reporting. Descriptive, not investigative. See the data accuracy disclaimer.

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Chart to reuse with this story: Grid infrastructure incidents in the United States, by year, free with a credit (PNG).

Grid infrastructure incidents in the United States: 447 entries, with a free alert for the next one.

Substation and transformer fires: the counts, the latest entries and a free alert for the next one. Also: transformer explosions.

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