Public Safety Power Shutoffs Ongoing In These SoCal Counties

Read Wednesday's story on public safety power shutoffs here.

CALIFORNIA — Nearly half a million electric customers in Southern California were at risk of losing power in a public safety shutoff Tuesday, with tens of thousands experiencing the shutoffs Tuesday evening, according to utility providers.

Shutoffs were in place as of about 8 a.m. Wednesday for 136,041 SCE customers, including 35,068 in Los Angeles County, 44,948 in Ventura County, 28,881 in Riverside County, 24,028 in San Bernardino County, 2,053 in Orange County and 1,063 in Santa Barbara County.

Of SCE’s 5 million customers, shutoffs were being considered for 425,014 in the following areas as of Wednesday morning:

• Kern County: 7,832
• Los Angeles County: 122,661
• Orange County: 26,035
• Riverside County: 105,694
• San Bernardino County: 71,926
• Santa Barbara County: 10,961
• Ventura County: 79,905

In San Diego County, which is served by SDG&E, 7,387 customers were experiencing a shutoff and 58,088 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.

Wind gusts in the afternoon Tuesday were expected to reach 80 mph with isolated gusts in mountains, canyons and foothills topping 100 mph, according to the National Weather Service.

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.

SEE ALSO:

100MPH Gusts Expected In 'Most Destructive' Windstorm In A Decade