By Cole Caviston, Staff Writer

Philbrook Dining Hall experienced a power outage late Monday evening, leading to a swarm of dinner-goers heading out to Stillings and Holloway Commons.

The outage apparently occurred between 4:30 and 5 p.m. Dining Services Director Jon Plodzik received news of the incident at 4:45 p.m.

“We had an electrical outage since 4:30,” said Philbrook Dining Supervisor Nancy Coleman. She dispelled rumors that Holloway Commons and Stillings were also affected.

Plodzik said that the root cause of the problem remains unknown, but that EMCOR Group, Inc., a construction company that UNH has an energy contract with, had also been notified and would work to restore power once its workers had arrived on campus.

“We believe [the outage] is related to a transformative feed at Philbrook Hall,” Plodzik said. “Philbrook experienced a power loss that took out all of their 220 voltage, so all they have is 110s.”

Because of a lack of ability to operate to a full capacity, the Philbrook facility was shut down to avoid losing any equipment that might need 220s.

Plodzik estimated that the power outage displaced Philbrook’s daily 1,600 evening customers, causing a 70-80 percent increase in traffic to Holloway and Stillings, though Holloway took in the most diners.

At 8:30 p.m., both Philbrook and the Philbrook Café reopened.