CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Thousands of Clearlake residents found themselves without power on Saturday morning due to a problem with a section of underground utility cable.

The power to approximately 3,641 customers went off at 8:39 a.m. Saturday, according to Pacific Gas & Electric spokesperson Jana Morris.

Morris said that an underground cable had become damaged or failed in the 14000 block of Lakeshore Drive.

“They’re in the process of replacing that right now,” she said Saturday afternoon.

Witnesses had reported smoke coming from the ground where the cable had been located, which was in front of the Castle Doughnuts shop. Nearby Palmer Avenue was reported to have been shut down briefly to allow for repairs.

Clearlake Police confirmed sending out some officers to the scene and clearing shortly thereafter.

Some customers were reporting that the power had come back on by late morning.

By 2:30 p.m. 12 customers were still without power. Morris said power was anticipated to be restored to all customers by 9 p.m. Saturday.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.