FortisBC announced that crews are working to restore natural‑gas service to roughly 6,200 customers in Lake Country and North Kelowna after an outage that began earlier this week [1].
The outage has left thousands without heat and cooking fuel, raising safety concerns and disrupting daily life – residents rely on gas for hot water, stoves and space heating [1].
Corporate communication advisor Lauren Beckett said, "We have about 60 technicians on the ground in the area" [1]. FortisBC crews are operating around the clock, focusing on high‑priority neighborhoods and coordinating repairs with local authorities.
Restoration could begin as early as tonight, according to a report from Castanet, which cited FortisBC field updates [2]. However, the Times Colonist said that some areas may not see service restored until Sunday, reflecting the range of conditions the crews face [3].
The utility has set up a dedicated hotline and online portal to keep affected customers informed, emphasizing transparent communication during the recovery effort. Technicians are inspecting pipelines, repairing damaged joints, and conducting pressure tests before re‑pressurizing the network.
“We have about 60 technicians on the ground in the area.”
The phased restoration highlights both the logistical challenges of repairing extensive underground gas networks and the importance of clear, real‑time communication with customers during utility emergencies.
