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Visitors to the Multnomah County Courthouse discovered that the building was closed Monday -- when they showed up on the courthouse steps.

(Aimee Green/The Oregonian)

The Multnomah County Courthouse will be closed Tuesday -- based on estimates from the power company that electricity won't be restored until Tuesday afternoon, at the earliest.

A Multnomah County spokesman said Portland General Electric has just told the county that it now estimates power will be restored between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. Tuesday.

"It takes six hours to heat the building," said spokesman Mike Pullen. "We're also expecting to find frozen pipes. ...This most recent information made it (the decision to stay closed) a no-brainer. Because if the power comes on at 2 p.m., it will be coming on in an ice-cold building."

Tuesday will mark the second day the building at 1021 S.W. Fourth Avenue has been closed.

Jurors and members of the public expecting to report to the courthouse Tuesday should delay their visits for another day.