SoCal Edison Explains Thanksgiving Malibu Power Outages

MALIBU, CA — Representatives from Southern California Edison explained the circumstances of their power safety shutoffs on Thanksgiving at the Nov. 30 Malibu city council meeting amid much local frustration.

During the week of Thanksgiving, the city saw days of consistent power outages initiated by Southern California Edison to avoid an equipment-ignited wildfire. At least 80,000 customers temporarily lost power on Thanksgiving day, Nov. 25, said Jill Anderson, executive vice president of operations for SCE.

The outages, dubbed Public Safety Power Shutoffs, are implemented by SCE when there is a chance SCE equipment could ignite a fire given weather conditions. Last month's outages were prompted by a multi-day red flag warning issued by the National Weather Service due to risky fire weather.

The weather conditions were horrible on Nov. 25, Anderson said. The winds were the strongest winds recorded in four years, with 75 miles per hour gusts and consistent wind speeds

"It was the right decision. I know it was a hard decision but it was the right decision," Anderson said. "During those patrols that we did after the winds died down we found damage in our system and we know — as we've seen and we've seen in your area — that if we aren't careful about how we manage the system that it can create much bigger problems than a missed holiday meal."

Investigations found that the 2018 Woolsey Fire was partially ignited by SCE equipment; a high wind caused a loose SCE wire to hit a conductor, which started the fire, according to the Los Angeles Times.

"We recognize that the event that occurred last week was really terrible timing. It was a very difficult situation and we put a tremendous hardship on all of our customers who were impacted, Anderson said.

But many council members weren't concerned about whether the shutoffs were necessary, but rather why SCE equipment has not been updated to withstand high fire risk weather events.

"Though I don't always agree with your company's PSPS shutoffs I believe you had no choice with this one because any spark would have been. [There would have been] absolutely no way to stop that fire, it would've burned straight to the ocean," said council member Mikke Pierson, who himself is an arson watch volunteer. He added: "But I think what's frustrating about that is, it's easy from a resident perspective to view that if the equipment was more up to date and more modern and newer ... we wouldn't be in this situation as much."

Anderson said SCE is making efforts to improve their equipment, including replacing and hardening equipment and covering conductors. Council members pushed SCE to consider putting equipment underground, which SCE representatives said would take a long time.

Pierson affirmed the city is prepared to help make any repairs happen with zoning and other issues.

Much attention was put on the Cuthbert circuit, which Pierson said has been needing repairs for a long time. Cuthbert lost power multiple times throughout the week of Thanksgiving.

Council member Steve Uhring said he was unsatisfied by the presentation.

"Santa Ana winds have been blowing for a very very long time, they're not new. What Southern California Edison has done is create an infrastructure that becomes dangerous when the wind blows ... you talked a lot about 'Band-aids,'" Uhring said. "But, as far as what I can tell based on what I've heard, power shutoffs are going to be part of my future, probably as long as I'm alive."

SCE offers backup batteries year round for people with medical devices and other essential needs. See how to get one using this link.

SCE representatives said that Thanksgiving food lost during the outages cannot be reimbursed. SCE only offers reimbursements for shutoffs that were caused by company negligence.