Transformer failure cuts power to George Washington University campus, canceling classes
The gist
A transformer failure at a Pepco substation left more than 70 George Washington University buildings without power Monday, canceling classes.
The outage hit the Foggy Bottom neighborhood in Washington, D.C., and was fully restored by 2:15 p.m.
How it unfolded
- Nov 2, 2026Foggy Bottom and multiple GW campus buildings lost power around 9 a.m., prompting officials to cancel classes for the day.
- Nov 2, 2026D.C. Fire and EMS responded to reports of smoke from multiple manholes on the 1800 block of H Street NW, with Pepco assisting.
- Nov 2, 2026Pepco's outage map showed 1,176 customers without power near 23rd and I Streets NW as of 10:15 a.m., citing a substation failure.
Key terms
- substation
- A facility in an electrical power system that changes voltage levels between transmission and distribution.
- transformer
- A passive electrical device that transfers energy between circuits by electromagnetic induction, often changing voltage.
- D.C. Fire and EMS
- The agency providing fire protection and emergency medical services for the District of Columbia.
Source: Wikipedia