EVERETT — Officials say copper thieves are responsible for a power outage that impacted 8,400 Snohomish County customers.
The Everett Daily Herald reports that the theft was the sixth this year. Last year copper thieves hit 31 times.
Public Utilities District spokesman Bob Bolerjack says they spent $120,000 fixing the damage caused by these thieves in 2014.
Bolerjack says the problem had increased as copper prices have gone up.
He says Thursday’s theft netted less than $200 worth of copper wire.
Crews at the PUD’s energy control center noticed a voltage fluctuation at the Glenwood substation around 6:15 a.