Alexandria, Virginia: Massive Power Outage Plunges Thousands into DarknessAlexandria, Virginia: Massive Power Outage Plunges Thousands into Darkness A massive power outage swept through Alexandria, Virginia, on Monday evening, plunging thousands of residents into darkness and disrupting essential services. The outage, which began shortly after 6:00 PM, affected over 45,000 customers in the city. Initially, the cause of the outage was unknown. However, Dominion Energy, the utility provider, later reported that a fire had occurred at a substation in the nearby community of Arlington. The fire caused extensive damage to electrical equipment, resulting in the widespread power loss. Emergency crews worked throughout the night and into the early hours of Tuesday to restore power. By 8:00 AM, Dominion Energy reported that approximately 85% of affected customers had their power restored. The outage had a significant impact on Alexandria residents. Traffic lights were out, causing widespread traffic congestion. Businesses were forced to close, leading to lost revenue. Many residents were also without heating or cooling in the midst of a cold weather snap. Emergency services, such as police and fire, were also affected by the outage. Officers reported using flashlights to conduct traffic control and firefighters relied on backup generators to power their equipment. Dominion Energy has apologized for the inconvenience caused by the outage and promised a full investigation into the incident. The utility also advised customers to conserve energy as crews continued to work to restore power to the remaining affected areas. As of Tuesday afternoon, approximately 10% of customers in Alexandria were still without power. Dominion Energy estimated that all customers would have their power restored by the end of the day. The massive power outage in Alexandria is a reminder of the importance of a reliable and resilient power grid. As the city and the surrounding region continue to grow, it is crucial to invest in infrastructure that can withstand future outages and ensure the safety and well-being of residents.