Failed Cable Causes 6-Hour Power Outage

An underground electric cable failed in mid-Ventura on Friday, causing a six-hour outage that forced several businesses to temporarily close and snarled traffic at the busy intersection of Telephone Road and Victoria Avenue.

Power was lost for 276 customers between 7:39 a.m. and 1:50 p.m., said Mike Montoya, a spokesman for Southern California Edison.

The affected area is bordered by Telephone Road to the north, Gaviota Lane to the south, Victoria Avenue to the east and Cyprus Point Lane to the west, he said.

Within the boundaries is Ralston Village Linear Park, which includes Vons and several small shops that closed, Montoya said. Paradise Chevrolet on Victoria and an apartment complex on Cyprus Point were also affected.

The cause of the cable failure was unknown. The cable was replaced, and the failed cable will be tested, Montoya said.

The same failed cable also caused four half-minute interruptions to 7,600 more customers, Montoya said. Between 7:39 and 7:50 a.m., power was momentarily lost to homes, businesses and traffic lights in areas north of Telephone Road and east of Victoria Avenue.