Why did nearly 3,000 Puyallup residents lose power Sunday? Heres what we found out

On January 27, 2025, a power outage in Puyallup, caused by a rat damaging equipment at Puget Sound Energy, left nearly 3,000 residents without electricity. The incident began at approximately 2:30 PM when the rat entered a switch can, leading to significant equipment damage. The outage predominantly affected residents near Good Samaritan Hospital, which retained power due to its backup systems. Within two to three hours, power was restored to all but 123 residents, with the remaining residents regaining electricity by around 7:20 PM. The outage also disrupted traffic signals on Meridian Avenue, causing some delays in the area.

A spokesperson for PSE confirmed that the outage was incorrectly marked as “Gig Harbor” on their outage map, attributing it to a glitch. This incident highlights the potential for unusual causes of widespread service disruptions. The quick response from PSE and the hospital's backup systems mitigated the impact on critical services, showcasing effective emergency preparedness.