A record-breaking windstorm howled through northern Nevada on Saturday, December 14, leaving widespread destruction in its wake. With winds clocked at 82 mph in Reno, Sierra Pacific Power Company's electrical system sustained extensive damage from wind, blowing debris and tree limbs. Approximately 30,000 customers were without power at the height of the storm late Saturday afternoon. With another storm packing winds of 60+ mph pounding northern Nevada on Sunday night, Sierra Pacific crews are working around the clock to assess and repair damage.

A tally of the damage on Wednesday, December 18, showed 200 of Sierra Pacific's 140,000 electric customers in the Reno Sparks area still without power. Crews will be working continuously to restore service to all customers by midnight. Additional customer outage counts (approximate numbers) include: South Lake Tahoe - 1,175; North Lake Tahoe - 2,300; Yerington - 130; Carson City/Minden-Gardnerville - 25; Markleeville-Woodfords, Calif. - 650.

All available resources are working around the clock on service restoration. In addition to operations crews, this includes employees in system control, the service center, warehouse, dispatch, customer service, corporate communications, major accounts, engineering, claims and others.

Additional crews from throughout Sierra Pacific's northern Nevada service area, six crews from Nevada Power Company and contract line crews are working on system repairs.

Approximately 132 power poles were damaged or destroyed by the windstorm. Damages affected numerous electric transmission lines feeding the areas hard-hit by the storm. Sierra Pacific customers in Minden, Gardnerville and South Lake Tahoe are being asked to implement electricity conservation measures through Wednesday, December 18, until damage affecting transmission lines is repaired.

The weather forecast calls for continuing stormy conditions throughout the week of December 16. We will continue to update this information throughout the week.