The Director of Facility Services said a failed high-voltage machine that provides electricity to part of the University caused the power outages in several of the University’s facilities Saturday.
The power outage, which lasted just under an hour, affected the field house, track stadium, tennis courts and softball fields.
Facility Services director Peter Davidson said there are various feeders that distribute electricity on campus.
Races were in progress at the Louisiana High School Indoor State Track Meet in the field house when the power failed.
LSU police officers drove onto the track in their squad cars with their headlights on, trying to give light to the hundreds of athletes and spectators, said LSUPD Captain Lawrence Rabalais.
The track meet has been postponed temporarily, Rabalais said.
Officials do not know if or when it will resume.
One of the feeders shut down Saturday after its sensors indicated that there was a problem, Davidson said. They are programmed to shut down when they detect a malfunction.
Electricians found the problem with the feeder yesterday, Davidson said.
Test equipment used in the assessment process indicates the feeder was poorly insulated, Davidson said.
Workers will replace the cable in the feeder and return it in a few days, he added.
Power returned after electricians with protective gear switched the system over from the 5,000-volt feeder to a back-up feeder.