Stanford summer classes on hold due to extended power outage

STANFORD – Since Tuesday afternoon, Stanford University has faced a power outage with no end in sight.

The university canceled classes on Wednesday and announced that classes would be canceled on Thursday and Friday as well. Childcare facilities would also be closed for the rest of the week and main campus employees who could work from home are encouraged to do so.

The outage occurred due to a PG&E transmission line failure believed to be associated with the Edgewood Fire burning in San Mateo County.

An official power outage alert was released on the university’s emergency information website Tuesday at 3:20 pm. Some students feared being locked out of their rooms and necessary buildings after the university announced via Twitter, “Card access doors may power down and lock automatically.”

By evening, students and staff were told to prepare for a continued outage.

“PG&E has not provided an estimated time of power restoration, due to damage to their equipment located in the fire area near Emerald Hills,” the university wrote in an update.

Portable light stations were moved into student residential areas Tuesday night. By Wednesday morning, all classes had been cancelled. PG&E provided the campus with a limited supply of power, though it does not meet the standard needs of the campus.

As temperatures in the Stanford area are forecast to reach over 90 degrees, students with no air conditioning were reminded in another emergency update to manage the heat by drinking plenty of water, limit physical activity, and wear cool clothing.

Students living on campus can find meals, air conditioning, and outlets to charge devices at the Arrillaga Family Dining Commons, EVGR Pavilion, Wilbur Dining, and Florence Moore Hall. Many libraries and other large facilities remain closed. The campus Marguerite Shuttle line are also reportedly operating on a reduced schedule.

Students have communicated over Reddit to share that the School of Medicine on a separate energy grid from campus and has not lost power, encouraging each other to take respite in the library.

Individuals can stay up to date on the school’s Emergency Information Website and through Stanford’s Twitter account.