180K Lose Electricity From Public Safety Power Shutoffs As Deadly Fires Spread

CALIFORNIA — Nearly 200,000 people were without power due to public safety shutoffs Wednesday evening and over half a million more were at risk of losing electricity as fast-moving and deadly fires spread across thousands of acres in Southern California.

Shutoffs were in place as of about 9:15 p.m. Wednesday for 176,857 SCE customers, including 40,573 in Los Angeles County, 47,462 in Ventura County, 51,748 in Riverside County, 34,552 in San Bernardino County, 2,060 in Orange County and 462 in Santa Barbara County.

READ MORE: How To Help Los Angeles County Fire Victims: 100,000 Flee Homes

Of SCE’s 5 million customers, shutoffs were being considered for 457,177 in the following areas as of Wednesday morning:

• Kern County: 10,159
• Los Angeles County: 123,335
• Orange County: 31,300
• Riverside County: 129,672
• San Bernardino County: 72,275
• Santa Barbara County: 8,537
• Ventura County: 81,899

In San Diego County, which is served by SDG&E, 8,946 customers were experiencing a shutoff and 69,155 could be affected by one.

Public safety power shutoffs occur as a measure of last resort during dangerous weather conditions to prevent the electric system from igniting wildfires.

Customers at risk of a shutoff are advised to keep important telephone numbers near their home’s main phone, have easy access to flashlights, install surge protectors for valuable electronics and learn to manually open any automatic garage doors or gates.

For more information and for the latest alert numbers, visit www.sce.com/outage-center/outage-information/psps and www.sdge.com/psps-dashboard.