Thousands of Salt Lake County residents were left without electricity Friday after a power outage swept through Sandy, Midvale, and Cottonwood Heights, knocking out service for 5,661 customers. The cause remained unclear as crews worked to restore power, with an estimated fix time of 8 p.m.
Rocky Mountain Power reported that 5,661 customers in Sandy, Midvale, and Cottonwood Heights are impacted, according to ABC4 Utah. The utility said the cause of the outage is still under investigation at this time, and estimated that power would be restored by 8:00 p.m.
For residents stuck waiting out the blackout, the American Red Cross offered a rundown of safety steps, as relayed in the same report. The organization recommends that people keep food cold, and when in doubt, throw it out, to avoid spoilage during extended outages. It also advises unplugging appliances and electronics to prevent power overloads and fire hazards once service returns.
Red Cross Urges Caution Around Gas Appliances and Check-Ins
The Red Cross guidance also flagged carbon monoxide risk, urging residents to take caution to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning if using gas appliances during an outage. The group further suggested that people contact their support network and let them know what's going on, so family or neighbors are aware of the situation. Monitoring local alerts for updates was also recommended as outages unfold.
Perhaps most practically, the Red Cross guidance addressed the question of whether to stay put or head elsewhere, noting that staying at home may not be viable for those who rely on medical devices or need hot or cold air. That calculus can matter most for elderly residents or those with health conditions tied to climate control or powered equipment.
Not the First Large Outage to Hit the County
Friday's outage is not an isolated event for the region. Just weeks earlier, on October 26, Rocky Mountain Power said an outage affected 6,038 customers across Midvale, Salt Lake, and Sandy shortly after 9 a.m., according to KJZZ. That outage was attributed to the loss of a substation, and crews fixed the issue by 10:40 a.m., even though the initial estimate had suggested restoration could take up to six hours.
An even larger outage struck the county roughly a year earlier. On November 7, 2025, more than 18,500 Rocky Mountain Power customers lost power in Salt Lake County, per KUTV. Officials at the time said the power supply to the Cottonwood substation was interrupted around 2:12 p.m., and crews had restored power to nearly 13,000 customers by just after 2:30 p.m. The remaining customers faced a longer wait: officials initially estimated restoration by 8:30 p.m. that day, then said the final 5,500 customers could be without power until 10:30 p.m.
As of Friday evening, Rocky Mountain Power had not provided an updated cause for the latest outage affecting Sandy, Midvale, and Cottonwood Heights. Residents in the affected areas were urged to follow the utility's restoration estimate while taking the Red Cross's precautions in the meantime.
