SKEENA REGION, B.C. – Power has been restored to thousands of customers across the Terrace area and surrounding communities following a significant outage on Thursday afternoon that was caused by an equipment failure.
The outage, which lasted roughly from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., had a particularly noticeable impact in Terrace, where it highlighted a sharp divide between large corporate retailers and small local businesses.
Major national chains in Terrace, including Walmart, Wholesale Club, Safeway, and fast-food restaurants, were forced to close their doors. Their reliance on electronic payment systems and automated infrastructure left them unable to operate during the blackout.
In contrast, the situation created an unexpected opportunity for some of Terrace’s smaller local stores. Residents reported that convenience and grocery stores able to operate with cash registers or by accepting cash saw a surge in business from people seeking essential items.
While the outage was widespread, the specific impact on businesses in smaller, surrounding communities is not yet clear. The event in Terrace, however, served as a stark reminder of the different ways businesses are equipped to handle unexpected disruptions.
