Lights out in LA when workers connect wrong wires
Laura Wides, Associated Press
September 13, 2005

LOS ANGELES -- 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.

Hundreds of thousands of 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.

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.

Some power was restored within an hour; Deaton said he expected all power to be restored by 5 p.m.

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 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.

jseven said:

Damn and here I thought I dun sent out the power bill late again.

I was over at L.A. Harbor College when the lights went out all over campus..they evacuated the school, and looked like the refinery across was on fire or something but they were just letting out smoke due to the outage. Only some areas were hit and heard the same thing about it only being DWP customers and not Edison...our electricity was still on.

BTW HEY Jeremy! Long time no see!!

Musey. Hey sexiness!...time to organize another get together. Not sure if you know nOOtorious, used to come in the chat as nOOdles..he's coming out this way on the 30th from MD. He's an old pal of Dex and I and some of the older orgers. Let's do this chica xoxox

I work in Burbank - we were down for about 2 1/2 hours - back up now so it's back to work

I think someone just tripped over the cord...

DiminutiveRocker said:

Unfortunately, there's more of a "Doofus-Factor" involved.

Someone accidentaly cut a cable.


tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431

theAudience said:

Umm, they hooked up the wrong wires. (See the AP news story above)

Muse2NOPharaoh said:

Did you use your hairdryer again?

althom said:

You ass! I love you....
[Edited 9/12/05 16:28pm]

GirlSiX said:

Your on! I need dates and info hit my digits!

TMPletz said:

Police Chief William Bratton just got off the radio here in L.A. stating that the cable was "cut".

Cut/Wrong wires hooked up, either way...very high Doofus-Factor.


tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431

theAudience said:

It didn't seem to effect us over here in Melbourne

bkw said:

U gotta remember that not everything revolves around the USA

bkw said:

I blame al-Qaeda.

bkw said:

Maybe his...



...Australian operative didn't get his "wires crossed".


tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431

thesexofit said:

That's right - just Los Angeles


J/K.....

Muse2NOPharaoh said:

Or the vibrator that you have to start like a chainsaw....

I'm sorry Muse, I couldn't resist.


M

MIGUELGOMEZ said:

Does that kind of thing have to be checked in seperately on airlines?

MIGUELGOMEZ said:

TMPletz said:

You just get thrown into secondary!


Oh and

Muse2NOPharaoh said:

Keep it away!!!

TMPletz said:

Not if you carry it on as hand luggage!