Cost Estimate of SoCal Outage Tops $100 Million

A think tank estimates that a widespread power outage cost the San Diego-area economy more than $100 million.

The National University System Institute for Policy Research said Friday businesses lost about $70 million, largely because they had to close. Some employees missed work because San Diego schools were closed.

Overtime for government workers cost up to $20 million. The cost of spoiled food amounted to up to $18 million.

Altogether, the think tank estimates the total loss at between $97 million and $118 million.

The city of San Diego hasn’t given any estimate of its own.