(August 7, 2002) -- A sizble portion of Los Altos and southeast LB was in the dark this afternoon as a power outage (cause under investigation) temporarily knocked out electricity for about 2,200 SCE customers. By late afternoon, service had been restored to all but about 150 customers.

SCE spokesman Marlon Walker told LBReport.com an area bounded roughly by Bellflower Blvd., Stearns St., Seal Beach Blvd. and the Garden Grove freeway was initially affected starting at roughly 1:18 p.m. today although power was partially restored about six minutes later.

At roughly 2:30 p.m., Los Altos area traffic lights were on but several large businesses on the east side of the Los Altos shopping complex -- including Target, Circuit City, Comp USA, Sears and Bristol Farms -- were in the dark and closed with customers sadly turned away.

A sign posted on the Sears store...

...told customers the store was temporarily closed due to the blackout.

Some smaller businesses on the east side of the Los Altos center stayed open even without electricity. Hair cutting and styling went forward with ambient light at Salon Underground.

Businesses on the west side of the shopping center, including Borders and Baja Fresh had electricity at roughly 2:45 p.m. while the east side of the center was in the dark.

Bristol Farm employees were outside the front door.

By 3:45 p.m., SCE advised LBReport.com that about 150 customers remained without power.

SCE said the cause is under investigation but may be connected with tree trimming by a firm in the 2200 block of Gondar Ave.