Electricity was knocked out to several parts of West Virginia University Friday by an off-campus construction accident.

Power was knocked off at the University’s Downtown Campus and elsewhere just as more than 5,200 freshmen and some 1,100 other new students were beginning to move in. However electricity was restored to most affected areas quickly, including in residence halls where backup generators kicked in immediately, said Corey Farris, director of housing and interim dean of students. Farris said there was no impact on move-in operations.

The Mountainlair Student Union and Stewart Hall, the principal administration building, were out longer as redundant systems were being checked, said Randy Hudak, WVU associate vice president for facilities and services. Power was restored in those buildings within about 90 minutes. Some other buildings, including the College of Law and Chemistry Research Laboratories, remained without power through the morning.

-WVU-

jb/08/17/12

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