Power outage Washington DC today: World Bank hit by manhole explosion as State Department, George Washington University and 1,100+ Pepco customers lose power

DC power outage today: A power outage in Washington DC affected more than 1,100 Pepco customers in Foggy Bottom and downtown on Monday, November 2. Emergency crews responded after smoke was seen coming from multiple manholes, while Pepco workers began investigating the disruption and working to restore electricity. According to Washington Examiner, the outage in DC disrupted electricity at several government agency buildings, including facilities belonging to the US State Department.

According to The Daily Wire, several State Department facilities were "experiencing an unscheduled loss of electrical power." Buildings associated with George Washington University (GWU) were also among the locations impacted by the outage.

According to 7News, the outage affected approximately 1,100 customers. The incident prompted a response from DC Fire and EMS and Pepco crews, who were seen working in the affected area. The cause of the power outage in DC was still under investigation, with reports pointing to a possible equipment failure at a substation.


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What caused the DC power outage in Foggy Bottom?

The DC power outage was reported after a power surge affected electricity services in parts of Foggy Bottom and downtown Washington. According to 7News, smoke was reported coming from multiple manholes in the neighborhood on Monday morning. DC Fire and EMS responded to the 1800 block of H Street NW, where emergency personnel and Pepco crews were present.

Pepco confirmed that its workers were investigating an outage affecting approximately 1,100 customers. "Our crews are on site working to restore power safely and as quickly as possible to impacted customers," the utility company said in a statement, as reported by 7News.

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Washington DC Fire and EMS services reported “smoke from multiple manholes” on the 1800 Block of H Street NW, which is near the Farragut West Metro station.

Manhole incident reported near World Bank building

The power disruption also prompted reports of a possible manhole incident near the World Bank building in Washington. A resident quoted by PoPville claimed that a manhole had exploded directly in front of the World Bank, adding that the buildings in the area had lost electricity.

The local blog also shared a possible explanation for the disruption, quoting the assessment: "Probably Cause – Failure in our Sub-Station."

However, officials had not publicly confirmed the exact cause of the power outage today. Smoke coming from multiple manholes was being investigated by emergency responders and utility crews.

How can residents report a power outage in Washington, DC?

Residents affected by the DC power outage can contact Pepco for updates and assistance. According to the AlertDC notification shared by PoPville, affected customers can call 202-833-7500 for information about the outages. Customers can also check Pepco's interactive outage map for updates on electricity disruptions and restoration efforts.