IRVINE
More than 3,000 Irvine households briefly lost power early Monday morning when a rodent shorted out a Southern California Edison transformer, officials said.
The animal climbed into an Edison facility, cutting power to several thousand homes from 3:53 a.m. to 4:35 a.m., said Kim Scherer, Edison regional manager.
The homes affected were along Michelson Drive to the north, Bonita Canyon to the south, Culver Drive to the east and Jamboree Road to the west, she said.
Scherer said the disruption, and subsequent repairs, left about 22 homes without power until 3 p.m. Monday.
The official said small animals sometimes find their way into electricity equipment on chilly nights.
“If they get a chill, they think this is a nice warm place to hang out,” she said.
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