Image
This is the substation that was vandalized. April 16, 2013
About 10,000 gallons of oil began leaking Tuesday morning from a transformer at a San Jose PG&E substation, which authorities said was vandalized, possibly damaged by gunfire.

The damage prompted the California Independent Service Operator to issue a "Flex Alert" Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. for Silicon Valley because of the heavy damage at the substation on Metcalf Road.

The agency asked everyone in Northern California, but especially in Silicon Valley, to conserve energy as crews are working to fix the substation's damaged equipment. Power is being rerouted as the work is being done.

Santa Clara County Sheriff's Det. Kurtis Stenderup said it's too early to tell if the gunshots reported at 1:46 a.m. near Monterey and Blanchard roads were related to the leakage.

As of 10 a.m., hazardous material crews were still cleaning up the mess, and deputies have not yet been able to get inside.

Two hours after the gunfire was reported, PG&E called the sheriff's office to report that their security fence had been "breached" in the 100 block of Metcalf Road near U.S. Highway 101.

In addition to the leak, at least five transformers were damaged.

About the same time, and not too far away, Gilroy and Morgan Hill police departments reported that 911 calls from land lines were not working Tuesday morning.

Stenderup said it was too early in the investigation to tell if the events were related.