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Ryan Reid, Southern California Edison troubleman, addresses common questions about Public Safety Power Shutoffs, inspecting equipment for potential hazards and keeping our communities safe. 1-16-2025

Jan. 15, 2025
Update: Extreme Weather Restoration Update

Dear Customer,

Relentless and hazardous weather conditions persist as winds continue to cause widespread damage, resulting in power outages and Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS). Please stay safe as strong Santa Ana winds are forecast through the end of tomorrow, Thursday.

OUTAGES AND RESTORATION

As of 3:30 p.m. today, 115,709 customers are without power due to windstorm, fire damage and/or PSPS, with the vast majority (97,751) due to de-energizations we implemented for public safety. We continue our efforts to restore power as soon as it is safe to do so.

While we understand how disruptive PSPS de-energizations are, safety must remain our top priority. Commonly asked questions that we receive from customers include:

Questions:

  • Why is my power out due to a PSPS and my neighbor’s house isn’t?
  • Why is my power out due to a PSPS if I don’t live in a high fire risk area (HFRA)? PSPS is frustrating enough without having information to address that concern.
Answer:
  • We deliver power to customers through an electrical network made up of thousands of circuits. Some customers may be served by a circuit that goes through a HFRA which may be de-energized for safety reasons. In other cases, customers affected by PSPS may be without power because the circuit that serves their property goes through a burn area, a region severely affected by a wildfire where we may not yet have assessed damage to initiate repairs.

SUPPORT RESOURCES AND MORE INFORMATION

SCE Community Resource Centers and Community Crew Vehicles are dispatched in the hardest hit neighborhoods to provide service, including Customer Resiliency Kits and other helpful resources and programs.

For tips on how to prepare for power outages, please visit Outage Tips and learn more at Extreme Weather Events Frequently Asked Questions.

SAFETY TIPS FOR EXTENDED POWER OUTAGES
  • Watch for downed wires — Severe weather can cause power lines to fall. Never approach a downed wire or anyone or anything in contact with it. Stay away and call 911 immediately.
  • Prepare an emergency kit with essentials — Pack water, food, medications, first-aid supplies and other essentials, including emergency contacts, a battery-powered radio and cash.
  • If you use a generator — Place it outdoors and plug individual appliances directly into it, using a heavy-duty extension cord. Connecting generators directly to house circuits can create "backfeed" and is dangerous to your neighbors and repair crews.
  • Plan how to decide to stay or go — Plan how and when you will evacuate safely to maintain needs such as power-dependent medical devices. Keep your car gas tank at least half full.
  • Stay informedSign up for emergency alerts and check local evacuation orders.
For the latest updates on outage status, please visit our Outage Status Look Up page on sce.com. You can also report outages at 1-800-611-1911 or online.

We appreciate your understanding during this challenging time, as we work around the clock to restore power as soon as safely possible.

Safety Tips FOR EXTENDED POWER OUTAGES

  • Watch for downed wires — Severe weather can cause power lines to fall. They can electrify puddles, wet grass and the surrounding area. Never approach a downed wire or anyone or anything in contact with it. Stay away and call 911 immediately.  

  • Prepare anemergency kit with essentials — Pack water, food, medications, first-aid supplies and other essentials, including emergency contacts, a battery-powered radio and cash.  

  • Sign up for outage alerts — Make sure that you stay up to date about power outages by signing up for alerts now at sce.com/outagealerts.

  • Review and Update your Contact Information: Log in to your online account to confirm your outage notification and alert preferences are correct for email, text, and/or voice calls.
  • Watch traffic signals — Watch for traffic signals that may be out and approach those intersections as four-way stops.   

  • Use your cellphone as a Wi-Fi hotspot — Find out if your cellphone can be used as a hotspot to connect to the internet. If so, you can connect your laptop or tablet to the Wi-Fi hotspot on your phone, a process called tethering. Keep in mind that when your phone is being used as a hotspot, it is sharing your monthly data allotment with other devices.  

  • Generator safety If you use a generator, place it outdoors and plug individual appliances directly into it, using a heavy-duty extension cord. Connecting generators directly to household circuits creates “backfeed," which is dangerous to repair crews.