Widespread Power Outage Affects North End of Santa Monica

As the fog rolled in to cool a hot summer day, the power went out West of 11th Street and North of California Avenue in Santa Monica on Wednesday evening at about 8:20 p.m. Pacific Standard Time. The power came back on at 8:59 p.m.

Some residents reported that they heard a minor explosion. The Santa Monica Fire Department tweeted that it Is responding to reports of a Transformer fire in the 500 block of 7th Street, north of Montana Avenue.

We could see lights on at the Methodist Church on 11th Street and California Avenue, and apartment buildings east of 11th Street appeared to have power. However at the Observer offices and in the surrounding area there was growing darkness as the sun set and the fog rolled in.

WCalifornia's independent system operator did warn that power outages were likely, given the loss of methane generating capacity due to the Aliso Viejo Gas leak Earlier this year, which forced Pacific Gas & Electric to shut down its facility.

Separately our Woodland Hills office reports That Charter Communications has been suffering a region-wide Internet outage, since 5 p.m. PST.