COCC-Bend power back on after partial outage

(Update: Power restored, partial outage over)

Central Oregon Community College dealt with cold classrooms due to a partial power outage at its Bend campus most of the day Monday that school officials said was caused by a large fuse going out.

The school issued a notice around 8:30 a.m., saying “power is limited in several buildings on the Bend upper campus due to a large fuse being out. Buildings impacted include Deschutes, Jefferson, Juniper, Science, Pence, Pinckney, Grandview and Ochoco.

Some students layered up with jackets and beanies to stay warm.

“We all kept our jackets on. We kept our beanies on. We did a little exercise to keep us warmed up for the presentation,” health science student Kaitlyn Everard said.

Heather Kegler said she received a text message from school officials telling her to check her email.

“We started getting text messages early this morning to check our emails, and each individual professors got a hold of their class, whether they were able to hold class or not, based on whether there was electricity. There’s electricity in some classrooms and not in other classrooms,” Kegler said.

Officials said many of the classrooms still had lights but the heat was out, and instructors worked to relocate some classes.

The college at first had no estimate for when the issue would be resolved but promised to keep students, faculty and staff informed.

“In the meantime, classes will meet as scheduled, unless individual faculty members communicate alternate information to the students,” the COCC notice stated.

A private contractor was called out to inspect and fix the problem.

Word came shortly before 3 p.m. that power had been restored to all buildings on the campus.

To see updates or find a link to sign up for the school’s Emergency Notification System, visit: https://www.cocc.edu/emergency/default.aspx