A sequence of significant equipment failures left thousands of residents in the dark across Spokane’s South Hill neighborhoods on Saturday evening, July 11, 2026.
This specific stretch of the highway serves as a vital artery for residents traveling between Spokane and the rural communities to the south, making the timing of the outage particularly impactful for weekend commuters.
The logistical strain was compounded by the fact that the outages impacted both sides of Regal Street, meaning street lighting was also absent, leaving only vehicle headlights to illuminate the roadway.
For those still waiting, the focus shifted to the eastern sections of the hill where the geography poses more challenges for repair vehicles and line workers.
Data provided by NonStop Local KHQ highlights that such events are not merely inconveniences but systemic stresses that test utility responsiveness.
Over 6,000 Avista customers faced outages Saturday evening in Spokane's South Hill area, affecting Lincoln Heights, Moran Prairie, and Comstock.