A transformer explosion in North Lewiston triggered a significant power outage Thursday evening, leaving more than 1,100 Avista customers in the dark across a stretch of the city’s north side.
The affected area extended from 21st and Main streets up toward 12th Avenue. Avista crews responding to the incident initially projected power would return by 11:30 p.m., though service was actually restored about an hour ahead of schedule, coming back online around 10:30 p.m.
Officers Direct Traffic as Signals Go Dark
With traffic signals knocked out across several busy intersections, Lewiston police officers stepped in to manage the flow of vehicles. For approximately 30 minutes, drivers navigated the affected corridors without functioning lights. Officers eventually cleared the scene once conditions returned to normal. Authorities noted that some officers may have simultaneously been responding to unrelated calls during the outage window.
This is not the first recent public safety incident to affect Lewiston-area residents. A shop fire earlier left a building a total loss in Lewiston, and a prior power outage also affected roughly 1,100 customers in the city.
What Comes Next
Avista has not released additional details on the cause of the transformer failure or whether infrastructure upgrades are planned for the affected area. Residents experiencing recurring outage concerns are encouraged to contact Avista directly to report issues or inquire about grid reliability improvements in North Lewiston.