Community Corner

Power Restored in Imperial Beach, Parts of Chula Vista and SD County

Electricity was restored to Imperial Beach SDG&E customers shortly before 10 p.m. Classes will still be canceled Friday for the county's public school.

Approximately six hours after the lights went out, electricity was restored to Imperial Beach shortly before 10 p.m. Thursday.

Power has also reportedly been restored in Carlsbad, Escondido, Oceanside, Otay Mesa, Bonita, National City and parts of Chula Vista, San Diego County officials said at a 10 p.m. press conference.

It is expected to take until tomorrow to restore power to all impacted areas.

Find out what's happening in Imperial Beachwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

San Diego Gas & Electric said the failure, which left 1.4 million people without power and blacked out San Diego for the first time in recorded history, could be traced back to a single employee error in Arizona.

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Find out what's happening in Imperial Beachwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Less than 30 minutes after power was restored, streets were still quiet in Imperial Beach but gas stations were full. At the Arco station on Palm Avenue between 12th and Florida Streets, nearly 20 cars waited to fill their tanks.

Electric signs conveniently placed on Imperial Beach Boulevard and Palm Avenue on Thursday to notify residents of street closures Sept. 14 for cement trucks coming to lay the foundation for a new hotel on Seacoast Drive were changed to say "STAY HOME UNTIL POWER RESTORED."

Looking south from Imperial Beach around 10:30 p.m., it appeared power has been restored to parts of Tijuana, but to the north, downtown San Diego's skyscrapers and the Coronado Bridge were still dark.

The San Diego County Office of Education said all elementary, middle and high schools will be closed Friday, even in areas where the power has been restored.


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