Approximately 14,000 customers lost power on Christmas.
In the early hours of Sunday morning, a number of power substations in Washington state were vandalized and damaged by unidentified individuals. This resulted in a power outage affecting around 14,000 customers. The authorities have not yet identified any suspects or motives for these acts of vandalism. It is also unclear whether the incidents were carried out by a single group or individuals, though they bear similarities to a previous attack on a power station in North Carolina in November.
Substation managers informed the local Sheriff’s department that there was evidence of forced entry into the fenced area of the substations. While no items were stolen, the equipment was vandalized, leading to the power outage in the region. Puget Sound Energy also reported a power outage at their facility due to a similar break-in and vandalism.
Three power substation facilities were vandalized on Christmas morning, causing power outages for over 14,000 customers, authorities revealed. https://t.co/10D82ZUs7i
— ABC News (@ABC) December 25, 2022
After a similar incident in November, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) cautioned power companies about potential attacks on substations by radical individuals aiming to incite civil unrest and further violence. The FBI did not confirm or deny an ongoing federal investigation but emphasized the seriousness of threats against critical infrastructure and urged anyone with information to contact law enforcement.