Dominion

Areas Where Dominion Crews Will Be Working Today

By ARLnow.com

Dominion has released the following list of roads and intersections in Arlington where its crews are planning on working today (Tuesday).

Dominion says its on track to restore power to 80-85 percent of customers affected by Friday’s storms by the end of the day today. The company says 90-95 percent of affected customers should be back on line by Thursday night, with “virtually all remaining customers” restored by Saturday night.

Dominion crews and mutual aid crews will be working through the Fourth of July holiday, the company said.

As of 10:00 a.m., there were 15,654 Dominion customers still without power in Arlington, according to the company’s outage map. The planned power line work sites today are:

  • 14th St S
  • 16th St South
  • 4th St N & Washington Blvd
  • 6th St & N Lincoln St
  • Arlington Ridge Rd @ S 23rd St
  • Barton St & 2nd St
  • Carlyn Springs Rd & S 1st Pl
  • Columbia Pike & S Scott St
  • Lorcom Ln & Nellie Custis
  • N 23 Rd St & N Fillmore St
  • N 26th St & N Glebe Rd
  • N 29th St & Westmoreland St
  • N 30th St
  • N 36th St & N Kensington St
  • N Columbus St
  • N Kenilworth St
  • N Kennebec St
  • N Nelson La & N 27th St
  • N Pershing Dr @ N Oxford St
  • N 9th St & N Fairfax Dr
  • N Somerset St & Little Falls St
  • N. 13th St. & Buchanan St.
  • N. 26th St & N. Harrison S
  • N. Harrison St & N. 26th St
  • N. Woodrow St & 21st St
  • S 17th St.
  • S Courthouse Rd
  • S Frederick St
  • S Highland St
  • S Pollard St
  • S Taylor St
  • S Veitch St
  • S. 16th St & S. Nelson St
  • Washington Blvd
  • Wilson Blvd & N Liberty St

Flickr pool photo by ddimick

Utility Companies Still Working to Restore Service

By ARLnow.com

(Updated at 12:55 p.m.) Dominion, Comcast and Verizon are all working to restore service to thousands of Arlington customers still affected by Friday night’s storm.

As of 9:30 a.m. on Monday, 27,586 Dominion customers were still without power, down from 59,000 at noon on Saturday. The company says it has 4,200 employees and contractors working to restore power to customers in all affected areas, but notes that the huge scale of the damage is making restoration a multi-day process.

“Many poles and cross arms need to be replaced, and other infrastructure needs to be rebuilt,” Dominion said in a press release.

Verizon says it’s working “around the clock” to restore phone, internet and TV service. According to spokesman Harry J. Mitchell:

As with most services in the immediate aftermath of the storms — a situation faced by more than a million residences and businesses throughout the Washington metropolitan area — Verizon has been making every effort to assess damages to its facilities and immediately had crews working to get services back online. However, due to extensive commercial power outages across the entire region, our crews have had to deal with a number of technical and mechanical challenges, in addition to storm damage such as downed poles and trees on our wires.

A power issue in one of our Arlington facilities has created several issues that we’re currently working through, including difficulty some callers are having when dialing 911 in Fairfax and Prince William counties. These counties’ 911 centers now are receiving most calls, and we continue to work diligently to restore full calling to them.

We’re working late hours — often around the clock — and bringing in additional technicians from other parts of our service area to assist in bringing service back as quickly as we possibly can. We appreciate customers’ continued patience as we work to restore services in the wake of one of the worst storms in recent memory.

Comcast, meanwhile, is also facing significant service issues in Arlington in the wake of the storm. Last night many Twitter users reported that their Comcast TV and internet service had gone out, despite it working earlier in the day. According to Comcast spokeswoman Aimee N. Metrick:

At this time it appears most issues are directly related to commercial power outages, and for the vast majority of people, service should be restored as power comes back on to their homes. However, given the severity of the winds and rain that arose from this storm, we are also seeing some more extensive damage caused by falling trees, poles and more that will take longer to repair.

We are working closely with state and local emergency personnel and power companies, and have employees working across the footprint to assess and repair damage in impacted areas once provided clearance that it’s safe to do so. We appreciate our customers’ patience and understanding, and will continue to work until service has been restored for all.

With temperatures again expected to climb into the 90s, Arlington County’s libraries and community centers are open today as cooling centers for those without power. Among the centers that will be open are:

  • Aurora Hills Community and Senior Center (10am-3pm)
  • Barcroft Sports and Fitness Center (8 am-10:30pm)
  • Carver Community Center (9am-9pm)
  • Charles Drew Community Center (3pm-9pm)
  • Fairlington Community Center (8am-9pm)
  • Gunston Community Center (2pm-9pm)
  • Langston-Brown Community Center (9am-10pm)
  • Lee Community Center (9:30am-6pm)
  • Madison Community Center (9am-9pm)
  • Thomas Jefferson Community Center (6am-10pm)
  • Walter Reed Community Center (8am-10pm)

Arlington’s libraries — including Central, Aurora Hills, Glencarlyn, Shirlington, Westover — are scheduled to be open from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. today. Yesterday Central Library and Shirlington Branch Library stayed open until 11:00 p.m. to accommodate those who lost power. According to the library blog, some 600 people were crammed into Central Library yesterday afternoon. The fire department also set up a temporary spray park at Central Library to help kids cool off.

The Cherrydale and Columbia Pike libraries are closed today due to lack of power. Also closed is the Lubber Run Community Center, the Long Branch Nature Center, some schools and some summer camps. See a full list of county closures here.

Dogma Bakery in Shirlington (2772 S. Arlington Mill Drive) is remaining open until 9:00 tonight and welcoming pets and owners who need a cool place at which to hang out. Owner Sheila Raebel — whose own house is without power — says she has set up chairs and tables after finding out that other cooling centers weren’t necessarily welcoming pets.

“We had people who were asking about it,” she said. “We found out the county… doesn’t have a place for people with their pets to come when it’s really hot. There are a lot of dogs who are older and a lot of cats who can’t live in a place where it’s 85 degrees”

The store’s Lee Highway location is currently closed due to lack of power.

Flickr pool photo by ddimick

Sunday Evening Power Outage Update

By ARLnow.com

Dominion continues to make progress in restoring power to Arlington households in the wake of Friday night’s storms.

As of 8:00 Sunday night, 33,879 Dominion customers were still without power in Arlington, down from 59,000 around noon on Saturday. Dominion says it hopes to restore power to 80-85 of all customers by Tuesday night, and 90-95 percent of customers by Thursday night.

“While we are dedicated to restoring power as quickly as possible, safety remains the No. 1 priority,” said Dominion spokesman, in a statement. “We want our customers to be safe, and we want our crews to be safe. Our crews will be working under extremely trying conditions due to the extreme heat while wearing heavy protective clothing. We ask that everyone be considerate of them and not interfere in the restoration process.”

In a press release, the company noted that it’s focusing on restoring power to larger customers before focusing on neighborhoods.

Initial restoration work focuses on large electric transmission lines and critical facilities such as emergency call centers, hospitals and cooling centers. For that reason, customers may not see crews working in their neighborhoods in the initial days. The focus then turns to power lines serving large numbers of customers and then to neighborhood circuits. Dominion will work around the clock until all customers have their power restored.

Truck Takes Down Power Lines in North Arlington

By Katie Pyzyk

An accident on N. Taylor Street in Cherrydale has left power lines strewn across a quiet residential block. Police, firefighters and Dominion Power are all on the scene.

An officer at the scene said it appears a tall moving truck had become caught on low hanging wires over the street, but didn’t realize it and kept driving. The wires came down, along with a power pole which held a transformer.

There are currently wires in the street, across sidewalks and in people’s yards. The lines are no longer live, and crews are working to move them. Nobody was hurt in the incident

Seventy-six customers were without power for about an hour and a half. Right now, only 10 are still without power. Dominion Power spokeswoman Le-Ha Anderson said those without electricity are the ones closest to the downed transformer, and power should be restored somewhere between 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. Crews are bringing in a new power pole and transformer to be installed, hopefully also by 6:00 p.m.

Taylor Street remains closed between 15th and 16th Streets. Arlington County police will stay on the scene to direct traffic until the road re-opens.

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Work Begins on Dominion Substation Wall

By Katie Pyzyk

After years of waiting, it appears a wall is finally being built around the Dominion power substation (3245 Wilson Blvd) near Clarendon.

Workers have been spotted using heavy equipment to add beams along the perimeter.

Dominion had promised to upgrade the current fence with a more robust containment wall after replacing the substation in 2009. Residents had been worried not only about the aesthetics of what they consider an unsightly chain link fence, but also about safety due to the existing fence’s integrity, or perceived lack thereof.

Completion of the wall had originally been slated for spring of last year, but construction didn’t even start until a couple of weeks ago. So far, there’s no word on when the project will be completed.

Traffic Alert: Road Closure in Clarendon

By Katie Pyzyk

A street that’s been closed in Clarendon for hours will remain that way through the evening rush.

Drivers are advised to find alternate routes instead of using N. Fillmore Street, which is shut down between Wilson Blvd and Clarendon Blvd.

Dominion is installing a new 150,000 volt underground transformer at the site. It powers numerous businesses on the block.

Several of the businesses, including Palm Beach Tan and Cheesecake Factory, have posted signs on their windows apologizing to customers for having to temporarily close down.

There’s no definite time for the work to be finished, but the block is not expected to reopen any earlier than about 7:00 p.m.

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Work on Dominion Transmission Line Project Continues

By ARLnow.com

 

Ever wonder what the building being constructed across Route 50 from the Courthouse neighborhood is?

It’s a new Dominion power substation, and its part of a major electrical transmission project the company has been working on since the beginning of 2011.

Dominion says they’re making good progress on the project, which includes the substation — located on the grounds of Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall — and a new 3.7 mile, 230,000 volt underground electrical transmission line. The company just wrapped up transmission line work along 10th Street between Wilson Boulevard in Clarendon and Route 50. It’s now working on the final phase of the project: running the remainder of the transmission line from the new substation to Marshall Drive and Route 110, near the Pentagon.

Work on the project is expected to be complete by the end of the year, according to Dominion spokeswoman Le-Ha Anderson. The new transmission line and substation will help support future growth in Arlington while improving the reliability of Dominion’s electrical service, according the company.

UPDATED: Power Outage Affecting NW Arlington

By ARLnow.com

(Updated at 11:30 a.m.) Nearly 3,700 1,500 Dominion customers are without power in the northwest corner of Arlington.

The power outage is currently affecting the Yorktown, Williamsburg and East Falls Church neighborhoods. Homes, businesses, traffic lights and even Yorktown High School have lost power.

Dominion spokeswoman Le-Ha Anderson said a piece of equipment failed, causing about 1,500 customers to lose power. The company hopes to have power restored by 11:45 a.m.

New Wilson Boulevard Traffic Lights Should Turn On Soon

By Katie Pyzyk

(Updated at 1:50 p.m.) The long-awaited unveiling of the new traffic signals on Wilson Boulevard at N. Pollard Street should be happening soon. In fact, they should be working before the start of the weekend.

The lights were installed a couple of months ago, but have remained covered up. Concerned about pedestrian safety, some residents have been emailing ARLnow.com to ask when the lights would begin functioning. One reader compared crossing the intersection to maneuvering through a video game.

“Too many people play ‘Frogger’ at night trying to go to and from the Gold’s Gym,” the reader wrote.

Arlington Department of Environmental Services spokeswoman Shannon Whalen McDaniel said the county’s installation of the lights has been completed, and Dominion Virginia Power just needs to supply electricity. Dominion tells us the lights should be turned on either today or tomorrow, barring any unforeseen circumstances.

Today a crew was at the intersection repairing the sidewalk that had been torn up to install the lights.

 

Parts of North Arlington Without Power

By ARLnow.com

More than 3,600 Dominion customers in North Arlington are without power this afternoon.

Yorktown High School and Williamsburg Middle School were reported to be among the buildings that lost power. Traffic signals were reported to be dark at the intersection of Old Dominion Drive and 26th Street N.

No word on what caused the power outage or when power might be restored.

Sierra Club to Hold Rally Outside Ballston Common Mall

By ARLnow.com

It may be the most exciting thing to happen outside Ballston Common Mall since this happened last year. The Virginia Sierra Club is planning a made-for-TV rally tomorrow at the corner of Wilson Boulevard and Stuart Street.

With the help of some interesting visuals, environmental activists will be calling for policies that support cleaner air in Virginia. Specifically, the Sierra Club is asking for public hearings regarding Dominion Virginia Power’s long-term energy plan. They’re also asking for the State Corporation Commission to approve Dominion’s plan to retire two coal-fired power plants in Virginia.

To help put an exclamation point on their message, demonstrators will be bringing along “a 6-foot cardboard asthma inhaler… 6-foot tall mock wind turbines…. pinwheels symbolizing desire for wind energy… and posters and signs calling for a transition from dirty coal to clean energy.” In addition, rally bystanders will be encouraged to place phone calls to the State Corporation Commission requesting public hearings about Dominion.

“Switching to cleaner energy sources can not only reduce dangerous air pollution, but also create high-skill, high-wage jobs for Virginians,” the Sierra Club said in a press advisory. “Activists seek public hearings so citizens may voice their strong support for clean energy and clean air in person”

Flickr pool photo by Tim Kelley

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