SCE Updates Plan To Address Power Shutoffs, Wildfires
Officials with Southern California Edison (SCE) are aiming its attention at the effects of recent wildfires and public safety power shutoffs (PSPS) in and around the Santa Clarita Valley, in its annual update to the 2020-2022 Wildfire Mitigation Plan.
In its Feb. 5 update to the 2020-2022 Wildfire Mitigation Plan, SCE officials addressed several of the major problems associated with recent power shutoffs, as well as fire ignitions caused by utility infrastructure during extreme weather conditions.
Following SCE’s public meeting on Jan. 26, recommendations and customer comments after the turbulent 2020 fire season were taken into account by the company before the recent updates to the three year plan.
Santa Clarita Residents Question SCE Power Shutoffs During Public Hearing
On Tuesday, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) held a public hearing to discuss Southern California Edison’s (SCE) execution of Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) in response to weather events in 2020.
Hosted by leaders from the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services and the California Department of Fire and Forestry Protection, the meeting aimed to publicly address the identified mistakes by SCE in regard to the use of PSPS.
“Shutoffs must be a measure of last resort,” said CPUC President Marybel Batjer during Tuesday’s meeting. “For many, loss of power means loss of income, loss of education for a day or more, and fear for those who are medically vulnerable and rely on machines. They put lives and livelihoods at stake.”
Repeated Power Shutoffs Impact Santa Clarita Business Community
The repeated occurrence of Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) in the last several months have taken a toll on segments of Santa Clarita’s small business community.
Some of the local businesses that have felt the impact of the public safety power shutoffs (PSPS) by SoCal Edison (SCE) include Mellady Printing and Direct Mail and the dental practice of Dr. Neal Green.
Mellady Printing and Direct Mail lost two full workdays this week to PSPS, starting when they lost power the morning of Jan. 19 through 6 p.m. Jan. 20 during the Santa Ana winds event, according to owner Jill Mellady.
Santa Ana Winds Expected To Diminish In Santa Clarita Weather Forecast
Santa Ana Winds are expected to start diminishing in the Santa Clarita weather forecast Wednesday resulting in electricity returning to residents.
Winds are expected to peak Wednesday morning but are predicted to start diminishing by the afternoon, said Rich Thompson, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.
“We are definitely having less wind today than yesterday,” Thompson said.
Through Wednesday morning, conditions are expected to be gusty, with wind gusts predicted to be 25 to 40 mph, according to Thompson.
By Wednesday evening into Thursday morning, gusty winds are set to expire, according to officials.
Local Representatives Call For Better SCE Practices In Aftermath Of Widespread Power Outages
Local representatives from Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger to State Senator Henry Stern, D-Canoga Park, released statements this week asking for better access to microgrids for vulnerable communities in the wake of large-scale power shutoffs implemented by Southern California Edison (SCE).
Ed. Note: This story was written by Tim Smith.
Extreme winds experienced on Tuesday, Jan. 19 resulted in several large Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) across southern California, heavily impacting areas of Canyon Country, Newhall, Saugus, and Castaic.
These mass shutdowns triggered a response from the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), which referred to the actions of SCE as both “tactless” and “deficient in meeting the standard its customers deserve.”