Utility Error Blamed for L.A. Blackout
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Utility workers connected the wrong wires and caused a blackout
across major portions of Los Angeles on Monday afternoon, trapping people in elevators and
snarling traffic at intersections, authorities said.
About 2 million people were affected by the resulting power surge and outages, which were
reported from downtown west to the Pacific Coast and north into the San Fernando Valley.
Much of the power, which failed at about 12:30 p.m., was restored within less about 2 hours;
all power was expected to restored by 5 p.m.
Several workers who were installing an automated transmission system hooked up the wrong
wires, according to Ron Deaton, general manager of the Los Angeles Department of Water
and Power.
``They connected it to another line that was not expecting that much electricity,'' he said. No
injuries were reported.
Downtown high-rises went dark, fire officials said they received reports of people stuck in
elevators, and stoplights went out at intersections across the city. Neighboring cities,
including Burbank and Glendale, also were affected.
The Police Department went on ``full tactical alert,'' meaning no officers were allowed to
leave work when their shifts were over.
But calm prevailed in downtown Los Angeles around midday. Office workers took the
opportunity for an extended lunch as police and fire sirens echoed in the background.
The blackout came a day after ABC aired a videotape of a purported al-Qaida member
making terrorist threats against Los Angeles and Melbourne, Australia, on the fourth
anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks.
But even before the utility explained what happened, Homeland Security Department
spokesman Russ Knocke said there was no indication of terrorism.
Some Los Angeles neighborhoods did not lose power at all.
Los Angeles International Airport lost power, but its emergency generator kicked in promptly
and no flights were affected, said Harold Johnson, an airport spokesman. UCLA Medical
Center used backup generators and reported no danger to patients.
Los Angeles operates its own power utility, which serves 1.4 million electricity customers.
Customers of Southern California Edison, the largest utility in Southern California, were not
affected, according to spokesman Gil Alexander.
Katie Cerio, a stylist for TV commercials, said traffic lights were out in the Torrance
neighborhood.
``They've got people directing traffic, but it's definitely a bit chaotic,'' Cerio said as she drove.
``But now I just entered West Hollywood and the traffic lights seems to be on.''
At the downtown YMCA, staff used flashlights to help usher exercisers from the pool and
other areas to locker rooms so they could dress before leaving.
Inside some high-rises, office workers were stuck in elevators. Albert Vasquez, 27, a
customer service representative, was returning from lunch when he boarded an elevator and the doors closed and the power went out.
``It was bizarre,'' he said. ``It went completely dark.''
Vasquez said he pried open the doors with his hands and left the building.
Across the city, traffic was snarled at intersections when stop lights went dark.
Katie Cerio, a stylist for TV commercials, said traffic lights were out in the valley's Torrance
neighborhood.
``They've got people directing traffic, but it's definitely a bit chaotic,'' said Cerio as she drove.
``But now I just entered West Hollywood and the traffic lights seems to be on.''
Gas station pumps stopped working, car washes stopped in their tracks, assembly lines
ground to a halt and restaurant machinery quit in middle of lunch hour.
At Bob's Big Boy restaurant in Burbank, power was out for about 90 minutes.
``All we could serve were salads and cold sandwiches,'' manager Frank Rodriguez said. ``No
hamburgers.''
--Contributing to this report were Associated Press Writers Alex Veiga, Jeff Wilson, Solvej
Schou and Jeremiah Marquez in Los Angeles; Jennifer Coleman in Sacramento; Robert
Tanner in New York; and Erica Werner in Washington.