Jan. 8, 2008 — High winds and an open switch knocked out the entire Lassen Municipal Utility District electrical system Thursday afternoon and evening. Power was restored to most customers in about four hours. According to Ray Luhring, LMUD’s assistant general manager and director of engineering and operations, at approximately 4:30 p.m. on Jan. 3, high winds over Bass Hill caused several of LMUD’s distribution lines to “float.”

The lines were not on the ground, but had sustained wind damage that caused them to sag and touch the conductors causing the lines to “ground,” which in turn disrupted power to the entire LMUD system.

LMUD crews tracked down the problem and began to correct it. In the meantime, LMUD staff contacted PG&E staff to verify that the PG&E system was still online.

At that time, PG&E confirmed that they had power to Westwood. LMUD staff proceeded to the Westwood substation, and when they arrived, they found that contrary to the information provided by PG&E, the breaker was open and power had, in fact, been interrupted.

PG&E was contacted and sent staff to correct the open breaker; however, due to unforeseen technical difficulties on the PG&E operations side, they could not reclose the breaker immediately.

LMUD staff worked with PG&E to resolve the situation, and power was restored to the majority of LMUD customers by 8:30 or 9 p.m. Thursday night — except for some Janesville customers whose power was finally restored about 2 a.m.