Utility Error Blamed for L.A. Blackout
By LAURA WIDES
The Associated Press
Monday, September 12, 2005; 7:04 PM
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.
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 1/2 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....
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/12/AR2005091201079.html
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