Occupants of the north tower of the new Octagon Park Apartments complex got a special dose of the season’s chilly weather Tuesday night when an electrical component failed shortly before 8:00 p.m. and could not be replaced immediately. The residents’ website, octagonri.com, came alive with comments and exchanges of information about who had power for what appliances – and who didn’t.

"I am in the north tower and knowbody [sic] knocked on my door to tell me anything at all, the only way I found out any information was by going downstairs and listening to lies from the staff," wrote one tenant. Another wondered, "Can we ask for the holiday tip money back?" and residents exchanged offers of warm apartments to "hang out," and offers of aid to pets – mostly cats – home alone in the cold.

Some residents lost their internet connections, while others did not.

Developer Bruce Becker told The WIRE that "one of the three electrical busbars serving switchgear in the north tower failed... About half the wall outlets and heat pumps in the north wing apartments went out of service." He noted that an emergency generator immediately restored power to corridor and stairway lighting as well as elevators.

"ConEd sent two crews," Becker wrote, saying those crews confirmed the problem was not with ConEd service or equipment. "The diagnosis of the failed electrical bus was made by... Zwicker Electric at about 2:00 a.m. when they removed a panel from the switchgear..." He said the property manager increased corridor heating and offered electric heaters to residents.

Becker wrote that he was at the building from midnight to 2:00 a.m. "Representatives from Gotham Construction and Zwicker have been on site this [Wednesday] morning and report that they will have the replacement busbar component fabricated and delivered by noon today and they expect to have... power restored by 3:00 p.m."

Becker added, "We appreciate the patience and consideration of our residents while we have diagnosed the problem and made this repair. I appreciate that our residents have been very understanding and cooperative while we have dealt with this problem."