UPDATE: City to begin fining Straub; Power shut off to $2.4 billion former Revel Casino

UPDATE: Acting Fire Chief Vincent Granese said the powerless 6.2 million square foot building represented a safety hazard without fire suppression and prevention systems working. "We can't fight a fire in this building safely," he said, standing outside the building after speaking with Straub's engineer.

Chris Filiciello, the chief of staff to A.C. Mayor Don Guardian, said the city would begin fining Straub daily until the power was restored. He said Straub is attempting to get backup generators. Another issue is that the red light at the top of the building is also off, which could be an issue for the F.A.A.

Granese said the building's backup generators were also controlled by ACR Energy.

Revel facilities staff left shortly after the power was shut around 2:25 p.m., saying "Lights just got turned off. It's totally dark." A security guard said, "Everything is out. It's a dead building."

Tara Lordi, a Straub executive, said backup generators were on order. She left the property, which she said was properly secured, and said she'd be looking for a hotel room for the night.

UPDATE: About 2:20 p.m., the power was shut off to the $2.4 billion former Revel Casino Hotel, the attorney for the energy plant said.

UPDATE: ACR Energy attorney Timothy Lowry said just after 2 p.m. the power will be shut down "momentarily." "We were waiting for all elevators and inside positions to be in a safe place."

UPDATE: The power is still on at Revel, and Glenn Straub spokeswoman Tara Lordi says she believes it may have been an issue with the city Fire Department, though it was unclear if a shut down process had begun. "We have placed our orders for generators," she said. That will take two weeks to set up.

Meanwhile, officials from the state Division of Gaming Enforcement have arrived at Revel, but they would not comment on what they were doing. No word from ACR attorneys or city fire officials as yet.

"We are reviewing our options," said Chris Filiciello, chief of staff to Mayor Don Guardian. "The fire deparatment is fully aware, and we're acting accordingly."

He said the fire department did not intervene in any actions ACR energy may or maynot have taken. It was unclear if any shut off process, which would take hours to complete, had been initiated.

Employees are inside the power plant, which appears to still be running.

Glenn Straub's $82 million takeover of the former Revel Hotel Casino did nothing to solve the most vexing issue facing the 6.2 million square foot property in Atlantic City: its power source.

Thursday morning, attorney Timothy Lowry, representing ACR Energy, which had also been unable to come to terms with previous potential buyers, including Brookfield Asset Management, which won at auction with a $110 million bid but backed out, said they were prepared to pull the plug.

"I can confirm we sent notice to Polo North that we intend to terminate service unless there is a contractural relationship before noon today," Lowry said. "To be clear, we don't have any expectation that he's going to sign anything because his position is that he wants power for free."

Straub did not return a phone message Thursday morning. He has previously vowed to bring backup generator trucks to power Revel, or find a way to tap into the former Showboat property's energy. He has an agreement with Stockton University to purchase the former casino. (Lowry mocked his Showboat plan as consisting of "running extension cords on the backs of sea turtles.")

He told the Associated Press Thursday morning he was attempting to bring in portable generator trucks and warned of additional problems beyond eventual mold and burst pipes. "Batteries for the emergency exits last about three hours," he told the AP. "After that they better get their checkbook out and pray there's not another Chicago fire. The Fire Department's hook and ladder won't go up that high. To try to blackmail what we are starting for the season in May isn't fair."

Straub's purchase of Revel was finalized this week, and he has spoken of big plans to reopen the property, add a water park and other projects throughout Atlantic City.

The energy company, built for $160 million and financed in part with municipal bonds, remained unconvinced of Straub's future plans.

"He’s leveraging Stockton College’s assets to drive down the cost of his energy, which is wholly inappropriate," Lowry said. "We see no ability for him to technically connect the two facilities. "

Lowry said the energy company was offering "below market" rates for power to Revel, and that some of Revel's costs were due to structural issues, including 12 empty floors that sucked energy, as if you left all the doors open to a house with the air conditioning on.

He also said the company had been close to reaching agreement with prior bidders and denied that the company was obstructing a future for the casino, which was built for $2.4 billion but never turned a profit. It closed last September.

"We can’t provide him free power," Lowry said. "We’re more than happy to provide heavily discounted energy for a below market rate, so the parties can regroup and transition into the new venture."