Brown snow may be to blame if your electricity goes out, Rocky Mountain Power says

Brown snow may be to blame if your electricity goes out, Rocky Mountain Power says

(Gerry Guay)


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SALT LAKE CITY — Rocky Mountain Power announced on Thursday that last week's "brown snow" in Utah — brown because it was filled with pollutants and dust — has lead to previous power disturbances and may lead to more disturbances with the incoming storm.

It's anticipated that with the storm arriving Thursday night, the rain showers will activate left-behind contamination on the electrical network leading to disturbances, Rocky Mountain Power spokesperson Tiffany Erickson said in a news release. The brown snow has been linked to previous power disturbances along the Wasatch Front as the pollutants coated equipment systems that were supplying power, she said.

"Light precipitation causes the accumulation of dust and particles to become conductive, sometimes resulting in arcing and sparking, which can create power interruptions," the release explains.

The National Weather Service and KSL Chief Meteorologist Kevin Eubank pointed to the strong winds last week kicking up dust and pollutants, making the snow brown. Rocky Mountain Power said that they received reports of flickering lights as the brown snow "caused a disturbance on some of the major transmission lines."

Erickson says the company has been power-washing transmission line insulators along the Wasatch Front, with the help of a helicopter, to help prevent some of the disturbances. The release also stated that additional crews will be working amid the weather to ensure a "fast response to possible interruptions."

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Ashley Fredde is a reporter for KSL.com. She covers human services and women's issues as well as arts, culture and entertainment news.

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