“We are responding to a power cut in central Bristol affecting 1,500 properties that was reported to us at 4.22pm,” the statement said.
“There has been a fault on our high voltage underground network which engineers are investigating.
“We apologise for any inconvenience that’s being caused and aim to get supplies reconnected by 18:00.”
An Avon Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said crews found and extinguished a fire “under the manhole cover which we believed to be connected to electric cables” at about 16:00 BST.
The fire service said it believed the fire was connected “to the power infrastructure in the area”.
It added crews were called to a separate report of black smoke and flames in the same area at 17:09 BST.