The power might have been out for only a few seconds, but Ohio University will spend about $30,000 to replace the faulty transformer.

The transformer, located at the Child Development Center at The Ridges, will be replaced this morning, said Mick Harris, director of Maintenance and Operations.

OU-1, the transformer responsible for most of campus, failed around 9:15 a.m. yesterday. Lights went off for a few seconds across campus as the power was automatically shifted to OU-2, Harris said. The electricity went out again a little more than an hour later when power was shifted back to OU-1.

“That’s what the system is supposed to do,” Harris said. “We have it set up right now so that the split between the two transformers is close to 50-50. It’s not exact, but close. If something happens to one, we can run off of the other transformer for a little while.”

Facilities Management identified the faulty transformer and switched a few wires around to restore power to all but two buildings, both at The Ridges. Electricity eventually returned to one building, but the Child Development Center ran power through a temporary generator, Harris said.

The replacement transformer was shipped from Cincinnati around 5 or 6 p.m., and maintenance workers began installing it at 8 a.m. today.

Harris said the $30,000 cost could come from an emergency funding request but as of last night the source of funding hadn’t been identified.

“At this point, my job is to make sure the replacement gets here, and we’re back on track as fast as possible,” he said. “Either way, the university will have to absorb the cost.”