Rolling blackout likely tonight

The city of Palo Alto will likely be part of a statewide rolling blackout tonight because of the energy crisis, city officials confirmed this afternoon.

The first area to be blacked out will be "Block 7" on the city's energy grid, which includes neighborhoods near the Palo Alto Art Center and parts of Crescent Park. "Block 14," in the Charleston/West Meadow area, would be next.

"The likelihood is high" that the rolling blackouts will happen, Linda Clerkson of the utilities department, said shortly before 2 p.m. At this point, she added, the city will likely have to reduce its electricity consumption by 9.6 percent between 5 and 9 p.m.

For more information, go to www.cpau.com, the Utilities Department Web site. There is a place on that page for residents to click to find out which "block" they are on in the city's energy grid.

--Don Kazak