Juneau has been cut off from all of its hydroelectric power. An avalanche that struck Wednesday knocked out more than a mile of transmission lines.

Spokeswoman Gayle Wood of Alaska Electric Light & Power said the massive avalanche was about three miles from the Snettisham power house. One transmission tower is down and four are damaged on the Snettisham line, said Wood. The Snettisham line connects hydropower to the service area.

Wood said that currently Juneau is running on diesel generators from Auke Bay and Lemon Creek. She went on to say that it will take roughly two weeks before workers can safely begin repairing the line, and that it would be at least three months before hydropower would be restored.

As a result of the avalanche, electricity rates are likely to triple on bills for the month of May.

Wood said a 50-percent increase would not surprise her. Such an increase could raise the cents per kilowatt hour up to around 30 to 35 cents an hour.