SCE Crews at the Ready for Series of Winter Storms

Winds and several inches of rain are forecast, which could cause trees to fall into power lines.

Back-to-back storms will sweep into Southern California this week, with the National Weather Service forecasting rain, gusty winds and snow at higher elevations.

Southern California Edison has dispatched crews and equipment throughout the utility’s territory to safely and quickly respond to any outages.

“We are closely monitoring conditions and are ready to respond to outages or other issues with the power system,” said Anthony Edeson, SCE director of Grid Operations.

Safety is SCE’s top priority. Heavy rains and winds increase the chance of downed power lines. Anyone who sees a downed line should stay away from it and call 911 immediately. Customers can also reach SCE at 800-611-1911.

Motorists are reminded to be careful when there is water on the road, especially if there is flooding. Just six inches of moving water can knock you down and two feet can sweep your vehicle away.

Customers can report or inquire about outages at 800-611-1911 and get the latest information using the SCE outages app at sce.com/outages. They can also stay informed by visiting sce.com/staysafe, twitter.com/sce and facebook.com/sce.

Storm Safety Tips:

Downed trees and mudslides may have damaged electrical lines. If you come across any downed wires, stay away and call 911.
Wet yards with puddles on cement or grass can carry electricity. If a line is down in your yard, remain indoors and call 911 immediately.
Watch for traffic signals that may be out. Approach those intersections as four-way stops.
Never try to remove a broken tree limb or branch that has come in contact with a power line.
Make sure you have a battery-operated radio and flashlights. Check the batteries to make sure they’re fresh. Never use candles for lighting because they pose a fire hazard.
If you use a generator, place it outdoors and plug individual appliances directly into it, using heavy-duty extension cords. Connecting generators directly to household circuits creates “backfeed,” which is dangerous to repair crews.