Short Circuit in Line Cuts Power to 750,000 People in Texas, N.M.
A power line short-circuited Friday, cutting power to more than 750,000 people in El Paso and several towns in New Mexico and West Texas, authorities said.
Power had been restored by late afternoon. The outage affected an area spanning about 180 miles between Hatch, N.M., and Van Horn, Texas, said El Paso Electric spokesman Henry Quintana.
The electricity went out about 9:45 a.m. in this city of 500,000 and began returning to some areas within 45 minutes.
Public Service Co. of New Mexico was investigating why a 345-kilovolt line that runs between Albuquerque and El Paso short-circuited.
City hospitals were fully functional during the blackout, but flights at El Paso International Airport were delayed for hours. The outage also interrupted telephone service, stranded people in elevators and knocked El Paso radio and television stations off the air.
Police had to direct traffic when stoplights failed, but backup power kept emergency dispatch services working, said El Paso police Sgt. Al Velarde.
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