NEWS INFORMATION

ATYPICAL WEATHER CAUSES ATYPICAL OUTAGES

ALAMEDA, Calif., February 26, 2004 - While recent storms had relatively small impacts on Alameda's electric system, the unusual lightning and wind did affect power in several areas.

A lightning strike at 10:00 p.m. Wednesday delayed the start of classes the following morning for the 1,800 students of Alameda High School.

Area residents were jolted by the strike to a power distribution transformer in the 2200 block of Central Avenue. While Alameda Power & Telecom crews were able to replace the transformer and restore power to 100 neighborhood residents shortly after 11:00 p.m., additional work was required at the Alameda High School, the Alameda Unified School District Offices, and the Alameda Free Library.

Alameda High School Principal Margie Sherratt and the school staff and faculty kept the student body at bay until full service could be provided at 8:40 a.m. Thursday. The investigation and restoration efforts at District Offices and the Alameda Free Library took well into Thursday morning. Scorch marks in one of the District Offices indicated that the bolt might have traced electric facilities well into the building.

At 9:00 Wednesday morning, wind is likely to have caused lines in the Fernside area to cross, causing fuses to operate and cut power to 200 area residents. The fuses were replaced and power restored to the neighborhood within the hour.

Throughout the day, Alameda Power & Telecom also received approximately 25 no-light calls, when individual service drops to homes were in some way affected by the storms.