A brief power failure Sunday morning struck portions of St. Paul, Inver Grove Heights and Mendota Heights, a utility official said.

About 2,600 customers were without electricity from about 7:30 to 7:50 a.m., said Xcel Energy spokeswoman Patti Nystuen.

Nystuen said that a squirrel got into electrical equipment and caused damage.

Paul Walsh • 612-673-4482