Story perspectives

Storms and Accidents Cause Widespread Power Outages Nationwide

11/26/2025

Center

Storms Spark Outages

A widespread outage affected about 45,000 customers in Jefferson County, Alabama, after storms.
In Utah County, damaged lines caused outages for nearly 20,000 customers, now down to 37.
In Rochester, Minnesota, a car crash into an electric pole caused outages for more than 1,200 customers, with power restored later.
In Chicago, a partial outage at Hines VA Hospital disrupted some patient appointments but was resolved quickly.

Right

Rocky Mountain Power Restores

A power outage in Utah County, caused by a damaged line, affected nearly 20,000 customers and hit Saratoga Springs, Eagle Mountain, Lehi, American Fork, and Lindon.
Rocky Mountain Power restored power to most areas by 8:30 a.m., ahead of the 10:30 a.m. estimate.
The Utah Department of Transportation warned drivers of traffic signal issues and urged treating intersections as four-way stops, with delays expected during the Thanksgiving travel period.

History

Historical Context

The Great Northeast Blackout of 1965 left 30 million people without power for 13 hours, highlighting vulnerabilities in the electrical grid. This incident followed the 1965 hurricane season, which included Hurricane Betsy, causing significant infrastructure damage. The blackout prompted regulatory reforms aimed at improving grid reliability and emergency response, shaping the future of energy management in the United States.

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Storms Spark Outages

A widespread outage affected about 45,000 customers in Jefferson County, Alabama, after storms.
In Utah County, damaged lines caused outages for nearly 20,000 customers, now down to 37.
In Rochester, Minnesota, a car crash into an electric pole caused outages for more than 1,200 customers, with power restored later.
In Chicago, a partial outage at Hines VA Hospital disrupted some patient appointments but was resolved quickly.

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