Why Does My Neighbor Have Power but Not Me?
SCE answers common questions that customers may have during a Public Safety Power Shutoff.
As winds pick up and vegetation dries out, Southern Californians can tell wildfire season is getting closer.
While weather and the risk of wildfire evolves, Southern California Edison’s Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) program — a critical tool used to prevent wildfires by proactively turning off power during dangerous weather conditions that include high winds — is evolving, too.
For some customers, the increase in extreme weather could mean experiencing PSPS for the first time . Others may have experienced shutoffs but still have questions.
Here are some common questions and answers:
Q: Why is my power off but my neighbor’s power is on?
A: Not all customers in a neighborhood are delivered power from the same circuit, similar to how rooms in your home could be connected to different circuit breakers on your electric panel.
Your neighbors directly across the street could be connected to a different circuit, and each circuit takes a different path to reach your community. Even if the power lines are underground in your community, they might be overhead before they reach your neighborhood and could travel through areas that are at high risk for wildfire.
Other circuits might be completely underground all the way from the source to your home. It’s also important to keep in mind that while your neighborhood might not seem to be experiencing high winds, weather can be much different a mile away.
Q: Why can’t SCE put me on the circuit my neighbor is on?
A: When possible, SCE tries to move customers to different circuits that are not subject to PSPS — either permanently or temporarily — during a PSPS event. In some locations that is not an option because connection points are not available, or there are limits on the amount of electricity the neighboring circuit can safely support. SCE frequently reviews the system and adds or upgrades connection points to make these sorts of transfers possible.
Q: How does SCE decide to shut off power to customers for PSPS?
A: Real-time weather observations measuring wind speeds, humidity and vegetation moisture using technology and team members on the ground determine if shutoffs are needed.
Q: The wind has stopped, why is my power still off?
A: Crews must wait for weather conditions to improve, then patrol the circuit looking for any damage or hazards in the lines — including objects that may have been blown into equipment — before power can be safely restored.
While patrols can be completed very quickly in some areas, in others they can take eight hours or longer, as they need to be done either on foot, in a vehicle, by helicopter or with a drone and rely on daylight to be completed safely.
Q: It was never windy in my area, why did SCE turn off my power?
A: Sometimes power lines travel long distances before they arrive at your home. On the way to you, they may cross high fire risk areas and experience high winds. If any part of the power line on your circuit between your location and the substation that supplies your power is affected by PSPS conditions — even if it's miles away — it’s possible your power may be shut off.
Q: I’ve never had PSPS in my neighborhood, why now?
A: To combat the growing wildfire risk, SCE updated its PSPS program — which may result in it being used more often to help prevent fires and keep communities safe. Some of these changes were planned and included in our annual Wildfire Mitigation Plan , and others were developed this year based on updated risk modeling. The updates to shutoff criteria could result in longer, more extensive outages, including in areas that historically have not experienced PSPS.
Q: What is SCE doing to reduce the impact of PSPS events?
A: SCE has been investing in undergrounding power lines , installing coated wire called covered conductor and increasing vegetation inspections. SCE also has several rebate programs and other services that help customers and communities improve their resilience to power outages due to PSPS or any other cause.
For more information, visit sce.com/psps .
