For Immediate Release

POLE FIRE RESULTS IN OUTAGE

ALAMEDA, Calif., March 20, 2003 - A fire on a utility pole was the cause of a power outage affecting approximately 2,000 Bay Farm Island customers Wednesday evening.

The outage began at 6:33 p.m. when a "pole fire" on a utility pole on Dahlia Drive caused fuses and other protective equipment to operate. Although the cause of the incident is under investigation, it is suspected that a combination of dirt and dampness on electrical equipment allowed a small current to escape to the ground, warming the pole.

Virtually all customers east of Island Drive, including portions of the Harbor Bay Business Park, were affected.

The Alameda Fire Department extinguished the fire, and power to most customers was restored within 46 minutes when Alameda Power & Telecom crews replaced the blown fuses. Some 220 customers, however, were without power for 2 hours, and an unfortunate 41 customers were without power for 8 hours, as additional repairs were required to restore their service.