A transformer feeding power into the Qwanlin Mall blew Monday morning, plunging parts of downtown Whitehorse into darkness.
One of the transformer’s breakers opened up at around 9 a.m., affecting around 200 customers north of Main Street, between First and Fourth Avenues, said Jay Massie, the spokesperson for Yukon Electrical Company Limited.
Power was returned to most customers by 9:30 a.m. said Massie.
Yukon Electrical was able to redirect power into the mall from another connection.
Only Liquidation World remained in the dark mid-morning Monday because they’re connected directly to the broken transformer.
“We’re hoping to have them on by noon,” said Massie.
Transformers usually function better in the cold, so heat probably didn’t contribute to the incident, he said.
Yukon Electrical workers were removing the transformer and replacing it with a new one Monday.
They’ll determine the cause after examining the transformer, said Massie.