Thousands could be without power on Christmas Day
23ABC News
and last updated 2020-12-24 12:25:03-05
BEAR VALLEY SPRINGS, Calif. (KERO) â Thousands of Kern County residents could be unwrapping gifts in the dark as SoCal Edison issued public safety power shut-offs for the holiday.
According to their website, nearly 3,000 local customers are without power in the Bear Valley Springs and Lebec areas.
SoCal Edison currently says power isn t expected to be restored until noon on Christmas Day.
Over 8,000 people throughout Tehachapi, Frazier Mountain Park, and just west of Delano are currently under consideration for power shut off until noon Thursday.
Once again, our power was cut off. Last time on Thanksgiving day, this time 2 days before Christmas and we’re huddling under blankets, If a fire came our way today, we put it out with the icicles on our noses and those hanging off of our house, because it’s going to go below freezing tonight. No heat. Our old 67 and 72 year old bodies are shivering as we wrap presents to lantern light. They say it’s again due to “fire danger”. But we know better. It’s cloudy outside and looks like rain and again, while my power is cut off as are my immediate neighbors, the folks across the street have power. They must not want to keep them safe from fire danger. Down the street at my sister’s ranch they had full power. But on the other side of her ranch they had no power. So, again, this insistence that they turn the power off for our safety is ludicrous.
According to SoCal Edison spokesman Reggie Kumar, dangerous winds and dry conditions are forecast for Wednesday and Christmas Eve, adding to what has already been a parched season filled with monitoring and shut-offs.
“Those winds along with dry vegetation that has been dried out by winds over the last several weeks are combining to create dangerous wildfire conditions in fire-prone areas of SCE’s service territory,” Kumar said.
He added that SoCal Edison is aware that it is both a holiday and pandemic, but that SoCal Edison had to prioritize safety and ensuring that power is restored as quickly as possible.