Christmas brings new round of attacks on Northwest power grid

Electrical utilities reported physical attacks on the power grid at three locations outside of Tacoma, Washington, before dawn Christmas morning.

About 15,000 people lost power, according to the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department.

The sheriff’s department is calling the incidents “burglaries,” though nothing was stolen from the three substations.

Substations are a key part of the electrical grid that keeps the nation’s lights on. They convert high-voltage electricity to the lower voltages utility customers use.

“It is unknown if there are any motives or if this was a coordinated attack on the power systems,” according to a statement from the sheriff’s department.

Tacoma Public Utilities, which suffered damage at substations in suburban Spanaway and Graham, called the incidents “attacks” and said its facilities were “deliberately targeted.”