For Santa Clarita Valley residents tired of losing their power every time the mercury rises and humidity level drops, the latest messaging Tuesday from Southern California Edison served as a warning: More outages may be in store, and they may last longer.
The topic for their community meeting next week is how to better prepare for more Public Safety Power Shutoffs, a controversial program that turns off the power for certain circuits when the weather conditions might otherwise cause a wildfire.
“Residents will learn about: How to prepare for outages; available programs and services; getting support during an outage; identifying cost-saving strategies; enhancing emergency preparedness; opportunities for questions and feedback,” according to the email.
“During times of low humidity, dry vegetation and high winds, Southern California Edison may use Public Safety Power Shutoffs to proactively and temporarily shut off power to keep communities safe and reduce the risk of a fire caused by utility equipment,” according to an email from the utility sent by Diane Castro, senior adviser of media relations, corporate communications. “Due to the risk of extreme weather facing Southern California, residents may experience longer and more extensive PSPS outages, including in areas that historically have not experienced PSPS.”
City of Santa Clarita residents, particularly those in Canyon Country, were hoping to hear the opposite after Santa Clarita City Council members met with state regulators earlier this year to express their frustration with the shutoffs.
The Santa Clarita City Council said they were sharing residents’ concerns with the Public Utility Commission at the meeting, but there hasn’t been much official change.
In 2024, the city slightly changed the language in its official legislative platform on Public Safety Power Shutoffs. The wording in the platform changes the goal from “prevents” to “reduce” the use of public safety power shutoffs.
SCE customers were again irate in January after the utility left hundreds of customers in the dark for days for what some felt were precautionary outages.
Some were upset by the seemingly random nature of the shutoffs, with some residents complaining that their neighbors’ power was unaffected while theirs was out. Others expressed frustration over the lack of information, with Edison officials stating they were unable to share any information about the duration of the outages or how many people might be affected outside of a countywide number.
Next week’s event is listed as a resource fair from 5:15 to 6 p.m. with a community meeting 6-7:30 p.m. Monday at the College of the Canyons University Center, which is at 26455 Rockwell Canyon Road.
