THOUSAND OAKS, CALIF. – President Bush (news – web sites) said Friday the power outages across the Northeast and Midwest are a “wake-up call” to the antiquated state of the nation’s electrical grid.

He also urged people whose power has been restored to conserve energy.

During a tour of a national park north of Los Angeles, Bush said it was still unclear what cause the massive blackout.

“It’s going to take a while,” Bush told reporters, urging patience from those affected by the power outages.

Bush praised local officials and individuals for their handling of the crisis. He said the blackout will require changes in the country’s electrical infrastructure.

“It’s a wake-up call,” Bush said. “The grid needs to be modernized, the delivery systems need to be modernized. We’ve got an antiquated system.”